Digital camera

ABSTRACT

A digital camera comprises an internal memory, an insertion port into which a storage medium is inserted; an imaging device; a storage control device that stores an image taken by the imaging device in one of the internal memory and the storage medium inserted into the insertion port; and a residual capacity display device that displays information on residual capacity to store the image by the storage control device.

INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE

This application is based upon and claims priority of Japan PatentApplications No. 2002-23496 filed on Jan. 31, 2002, No. 2002-23497 filedon Jan. 31, 2002, No. 2002-23498 filed on Jan. 31, 2002, No. 2002-40282filed on Feb. 18, 2002, No. 2002-40286 filed on Feb. 18, 2002 and No.2002-268160 filed on Jan. 31, 2002, the contents being incorporatedherein by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

This invention relates to a digital camera with a function to recordtaken image data in a recording medium.

2. Description of Related Art

A digital camera records image information about a taken image in achangeable recording medium like a memory card etc. But, capacity of therecording medium recording the image information and cost performanceare not satisfactory. Especially, a problem a overwritable recordingmedium has is its high price.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A present invention is aimed at providing a digital camera that uses arecording medium efficiently.

A digital camera of this invention includes an internal memory, aninsertion port into which a storage medium is inserted, an imagingdevice, a storage control device that stores an image taken by theimaging device in any of the internal memory and the storage mediuminserted into the insertion port and a residual capacity display devicethat displays information on residual capacity to store the image by thestorage control device. It is preferable that the residual capacitydisplay device displays residual capacity of the internal memory andresidual capacity of the storage medium. The residual capacity displaydevice may display a summation of residual capacity adding togetherresidual capacity of the internal memory and residual capacity of thestorage medium.

The digital camera may further include a display control device thatchanges a display form of the summation of residual capacity on theresidual capacity display device corresponding to residual capacity ofthe storage medium. The residual capacity display device may furtherdisplay residual capacity of the storage medium when there is residualcapacity in the storage medium.

The storage medium inserted into the insertion port is any of aoverwritable storage medium and a storage medium limiting overwrite andthe digital camera may further include a medium detector that detectswhether the storage medium inserted into the insertion port is any ofthe overwritable storage medium and the storage medium limitingoverwrite and a display control device that changes a display form ofthe residual capacity display device corresponding to a kind of thestorage medium inserted into the insertion port detected the mediumdetector. It is preferable that, when the medium detector detects thatthe overwritable storage medium is inserted into the insertion port, thedisplay control device controls the residual capacity display device soas to display a summation of residual capacity of the internal memoryand the overwritable storage medium. It is preferable that, when themedium detector detects that the storage medium limiting overwrite isinserted into the insertion port, the display control device controlsthe residual capacity display device so as to display residual capacityof the internal memory. The digital camera may further include atranscribe control device that transcribes the image stored in theinternal memory to the storage medium limiting overwrite.

The digital camera further include a display form select device thatselects a display form of the residual capacity display device, whereina storage medium limiting overwrite may be capable of being insertedinto the insertion port. It is preferable that the display form to beselected by the display form select device includes a display of atleast a summation of residual capacity adding together residual capacityof the internal memory and residual capacity of the storage mediumlimiting overwrite. It is preferable that the display form to beselected by the display form select device includes at least a displayof residual capacity of the internal memory.

The storage medium inserted into the insertion port is any of aoverwritable storage medium and a storage medium limiting overwrite andit is preferable that the digital camera further includes a storagecheck device that checks whether the image can be stored in a storagemedium inserted into the insertion port and a warning display devicethat displays a warning when the storage check device checks that theimage cannot be stored in a case where the storage medium limitingoverwrite is inserted into the insertion port.

It is preferable that the digital camera further includes a storagecheck device that checks whether the image can be stored in any of theinternal memory and the storage medium and a warning display device thatdisplays a warning when the storage check device checks that the imagecan be stored in neither the internal memory nor the storage medium.

It is preferable that the digital camera further includes a storagecheck device that checks whether the image can be stored in any of theinternal memory and the storage medium and a warning device thatdisplays a warning even in a case where the image can be stored in theinternal memory when the storage check device checks that the imagecannot be stored in the storage medium. The digital camera may furtherinclude a transcribe control device that transcribes the image stored inthe internal memory to the storage medium.

A digital camera of this invention includes a nonvolatile internalmemory, an insertion port into which a storage medium limiting overwriteis capable of being inserted, an imaging device, a storage controldevice that stores an image taken by the imaging device in the internalmemory and a transcribe control device that transcribes the image storedin the internal memory to the storage medium limiting overwrite.

It is preferable that a overwritable storage medium is capable of beinginserted into the insertion port too and the transcribe control deviceperforms a different control corresponding to a kind of a storage mediuminserted into the insertion port. The digital camera may further includean automatic delete control device that automatically deletes the imagedata already transcribed to the storage medium from the internal memoryin conjunction with transcription of the image data by the transcribecontrol device. The digital camera may further include a function holddevice that puts deletion of the image by the automatic delete controldevice on hold even when the image data is transcribed by the transcribecontrol device and the transcribe control device may be capable ofduplicating and transcribing the image data stored in the internalmemory to a storage medium inserted into when a storage medium in theinsertion port gets replaced while deletion of the image is put on holdby the function hold device.

The digital camera further includes an image display device, wherein itis preferable that the transcribe control device includes a displaycontrol device that displays a storage image of the internal memory onthe image display device and a transcribe instruction device thatinstructs to transcribe the stored image displayed on the image displaydevice. The transcribe control device may further include a deleteinstruction device that instructs so as to delete the stored imagedisplayed on the image display device without storing the image in thestorage medium.

A digital camera of this invention includes an internal memory, aninsertion port into which a storage medium is inserted, an imagingdevice, a storage control device that stores an image taken by theimaging device in the internal memory, an image display device, adisplay control device and a select instruction device that selects anyof a first instruction to transcribe a storage image of the internalmemory displayed on the image display device to the storage medium andalso delete the image from the internal memory and a second instructionto delete the stored image from the internal memory without transcribingthe image to the storage medium.

A digital camera of this invention includes an internal memory, aninsertion port into which a storage medium is inserted, an imagingdevice, a storage control device that stores an image taken by theimaging device in the internal memory and a transcribe processing driverthat starts processing to transcribe a storage image of the internalmemory to the storage medium. The digital camera further includes aresidual capacity judgment device that judges whether the stored imagecan be transcribed to the storage medium, wherein it is preferable that,when the residual capacity judgment device judges that the store imagecannot be transcribed to the storage medium, the transcribe processingdriver does not start transcription processing.

The digital camera further includes a power switch, wherein thetranscribe processing driver may start processing to transcribe thestored image to the storage medium in conjunction with a power-on of thepower switch. The digital camera further includes a transcribe displaydevice, wherein it is preferable that the transcribe processing driverperforms a display about transcription of the stored image on thetranscribe display device. The digital camera further includes aresidual capacity judgment device that judges whether the stored imagecan be transcribed to the storage medium, wherein it is preferable that,when the residual capacity judges that the stored image cannot betranscribed to the storage medium, the transcribe processing driver doesnot start transcription processing.

The digital camera further includes a power switch, wherein thetranscribe processing driver may start processing to transcribe astorage image of the internal memory to the storage medium prior toimplementing a power-off in conjunction with a power-off operation ofthe power switch. The digital camera further includes a transcribedisplay device, wherein it is preferable that, when the image is storedin the internal memory, the transcribe processing driver performs adisplay about transcription of the stored image on the transcribedisplay device. The digital camera further includes a residual capacityjudgment device that judges whether the stored image can be transcribedto the storage medium, wherein it is preferable that, when the residualcapacity judges that the stored image cannot be transcribed to thestorage medium, the transcribe processing driver does not starttranscription processing. The transcribe processing driver may startprocessing to transcribe the stored image to the storage medium inconjunction with storage of the image in the internal memory by thestorage control device. The digital camera further includes a transcribedisplay device, wherein it is preferable that the transcribe processingdriver performs a display about transcription of the stored image of theinternal memory on the transcribe display device. The digital camerafurther includes a residual capacity judgment device that judges whetherthe stored image can be transcribed to the storage medium, wherein it ispreferable that, when the residual capacity judgment judges that thestored image cannot be transcribed to the storage medium, the transcribeprocessing driver does not start transcription processing.

The digital camera further includes an image display device and areproduction instruction device that reproduces a storage image of theinternal memory on the image display device, wherein the transcribeprocessing driver may start processing to transcribe a storage image ofthe internal memory displayed on the image display device to the storagemedium in conjunction with an instruction of the reproductioninstruction device. It is preferable that the transcribe processingdriver performs a display about transcription of the stored image of theinternal memory displayed on the image display device on the imagedisplay device. The digital camera further includes a residual capacityjudgment device that judges whether the stored image can be transcribedto the storage medium, wherein it is preferable that, when the residualcapacity judgment judges that the stored image cannot be transcribed tothe storage medium, the transcribe processing driver does not starttranscription processing.

A digital camera of this invention includes an internal memory thatstores an image, an insertion port into which a storage medium limitingoverwrite of an image to be stored is capable of being inserted, animage display device and a reproduction control device that lets any ofa storage image of the internal memory and a storage image of thestorage medium limiting overwrite be reproduced on the image displaydevice so as to be capable of differentiating each other. It ispreferable that a overwritable storage medium is capable of beinginserted into the insertion port too and the reproduction control devicelets a storage image of the internal memory and a storage image of theoverwritable storage medium be reproduced on the image display device soas to be capable of being differentiated from a storage image of thestorage medium limiting overwrite.

A digital camera of this invention includes an internal memory that iscapable of storing a plurality of images, an insertion port into which astorage medium limiting overwrite is capable of being inserted, animaging device, a storage control device that stores an image taken bythe imaging device in the internal memory, a delete instruction devicethat instructs so as to delete a portion of an image of the internalmemory selectively and a transcribe control device that transcribes aplurality of images stored in the internal memory to the storage mediumall at once. It is preferable that the transcribe control devicetranscribes management data of the plurality of images stored in theinternal memory to the storage medium all at once along with theplurality of images stored.

A digital camera of this invention includes an internal memory, aninsertion port into which a storage medium is inserted, an imagingdevice, a storage control device that stores an image taken by theimaging device in the internal memory, a transcribe control device thattranscribes a storage image of the internal memory to the storage mediumand a storage limit device that controls a storage amount in the imagein the internal memory so as not to become larger than a storage amountof the storage medium.

A digital camera of this invention includes an internal memory, aninsertion port into which a storage medium is inserted, an imagingdevice, a storage control device that stores an image taken by theimaging device in the internal memory, a storage amount splitter thatsplits the storage amount in the internal memory into a storage amountcapable of storing in the storage medium and the rest when a storageamount in the image in the internal memory is larger than a storageamount of the storage medium and a transcribe control device thattranscribes the storage amount in the internal memory split by thestorage amount splitter to the storage medium. It is preferable that thestorage amount splitter splits the storage amount with attachingmanagement data to unite the split storage amount in the internal memoryafterward.

A digital camera of this invention includes an internal memory thatstores an image, an insertion port into which a storage medium limitingoverwrite of an image to be stored is capable of being inserted, animaging device, a delete control device that deletes the imagereproduced on the image display device, wherein the delete controldevice performs a different delete control depending upon whether theimage reproduced on the image display device is a storage image of theinternal memory or a storage image of the storage medium limitingoverwrite. It is preferable that a overwritable storage medium iscapable of being inserted into the insertion port too and, with respectto a storage image of the storage medium limiting overwrite reproducedon the image display device, the delete control device performs a deletecontrol different from the delete control over a storage image of theoverwritable storage medium and a storage image of the internal memory.

A digital camera of this invention includes an internal memory, aninsertion port into which a storage medium is inserted, an imagingdevice, a storage control device that stores an image taken by theimaging device in the internal memory and a transcribe control devicethat transcribes a storage image of the internal memory to the storagemedium. The digital camera further includes a power switch, wherein itis preferable that the transcribe control device transcribes the storedimage to the storage medium in conjunction with a power-on of the powerswitch. The digital camera further includes a power switch, wherein itis preferable that the transcribe control device may transcribe thestored image to the storage medium prior to an execution of an power-offin conjunction with a power-off operation of the power switch.

The digital camera further includes an image display device and areproduction instruction device that reproduces the image stored in theinternal memory on the image display device, wherein the transcribecontrol device may transcribe a storage image of the internal memorydisplayed on the image display device to the storage medium inconjunction with an instruction of the reproduction instruction device.It is preferable that the digital camera further includes an automaticdelete control device that automatically deletes the image alreadytranscribed to the storage medium from the internal memory inconjunction with transcription by the transcribe control device.

A digital camera of this invention includes an imaging device, aninternal memory, an insertion port into which a storage medium isinserted, a medium detector that detects whether the storage mediuminserted into the insertion port is a storage medium limiting overwriteand an image record control device that controls so as to store an imagedata taken by the imaging device in the internal memory and record theimage data stored in the internal memory in the storage medium limitingoverwrite when the medium detector detects that a storage mediumlimiting overwrite is inserted into the insertion port. It is preferablethat the image record control device records the image data in thestorage medium limiting overwrite after a given period of time haselapsed since the image data was stored in the internal memory. Theimage record control device may nullify the image data stored in theinternal memory after the given period of time elapsed. The digitalcamera further includes an image display device that displays areproduction image, wherein the image record control device mayreproduce an image taken by the imaging device on the image displaydevice for the given period of time.

The image record control device may make recording of the image data inthe storage medium limiting overwrite cancelable within the given periodof time. The image record control device may nullify the image datastored in the internal memory corresponding to a cancellation of theimage data recording.

When a shooting operation is executed by the imaging device after theimage data is stored in the internal memory, the image record controldevice may record the image data stored in the internal memory in thestorage medium limiting overwrite.

It is preferable that the internal memory is a volatile memory. Theinternal memory may be a buffer memory for image processing work. It ispreferable that the storage medium limiting overwrite is a write-oncememory.

A digital camera of this invention includes an imaging device, aninsertion port into which a storage medium limiting overwrite is capableof being inserted, an internal memory and a capacity control device thatcontrols so as to secure temporal storage capacity to temporally storean image data taken by the imaging device in the internal memory whenthe storage medium limiting overwrite is inserted into the insertionport. It is preferable that the capacity control device secures temporalstorage capacity of the internal memory in response to capacity of thestorage medium limiting overwrite. The capacity control device maysecure temporal storage capacity of the internal memory in response tocapacity of the storage medium limiting overwrite.

It is preferable that the internal memory is a volatile memory. Theinternal memory may be a buffer memory for image processing work.

When capacity of the image data stored in the internal memory exceedsthe temporal storage capacity secured by the capacity control device, itis preferable that the digital camera further includes an image recordcontrol device that records the image data in the storage mediumlimiting overwrite inserted into the insertion port. It is preferablethat the image record control device records the image data stored inthe internal memory in the storage medium limiting overwrite in shootingorder.

When capacity of the image data stored in the internal memory exceedsthe temporal storage capacity secured by the capacity control device, itis preferable that the digital camera further includes a recordprompting device that prompts so as to record the image data in thestorage medium limiting overwrite.

It is preferable that the digital camera further includes a residualcapacity calculation device that decides capacity subtracting capacityof the image data stored in the internal memory from residual capacityof the storage medium limiting overwrite as residual capacity forrecording image data taken by the imaging device. The digital camera mayfurther include a residual capacity display control device that convertsthe residual capacity calculated by the residual capacity calculationdevice to a record frame number of the image data and displays a recordframe number thereof. It is preferable that the residual capacitydisplay control device controls so as to display a minus when theresidual capacity calculated by the residual capacity calculation deviceis negative.

The digital camera further includes a delete instruction device thatinstructs so as to delete the image data, an image delete device thatdeletes the image data in response to an instruction of the deleteinstruction device, wherein it is preferable that, when the image deletedevice is instructed to delete all the image data by the deleteinstruction device, the image delete device deletes the image data inthe internal memory along with image data recorded in the storagemedium.

It is preferable that the digital camera further includes a batteryattachment device, a battery power capacity detector that detectsresidual capacity of a battery attached to the battery attachment deviceand an image record control device that records the image datatemporally stored in the internal memory in the storage medium limitingoverwrite corresponding to the residual capacity of the battery powerdetected by the battery power capacity detector.

It is preferable that the digital camera further includes a batteryattachment device and a battery power capacity detector that detectsresidual capacity of a battery attached to the battery attachment deviceand a record notification device that notifies so as to record the imagedata temporally stored in the internal memory in the storage mediumlimiting overwrite corresponding to the residual capacity of the batterypower detected by the battery power capacity detector.

It is preferable that the digital camera further includes a batteryattachment device and a dismantle warning device that warns so as not todismantle a battery when the image data is stored in the internalmemory.

It is preferable that format of the image data to be stored in theinternal memory is equal to format of image data to be recorded in thestorage medium limiting overwrite. The image data stored in the internalmemory may be EXIF (Exchangeable Image File Format) image data. It ispreferable that information about a folder to be recorded in the storagemedium limiting overwrite set at a shooting is also stored in theinternal memory along with the image data.

The digital camera further includes a reproduction device thatreproduces recorded image data, wherein it is preferable that thereproduction device does not differentiate and reproduces image datawithin the storage medium inserted into insertion port and the imagedata stored in the internal memory in given order.

The digital camera further includes a reproduction device thatreproduces recorded image data, wherein the reproduction device maydifferentiate and reproduce image data within the storage mediuminserted into insertion port and the image data stored in the internalmemory. It is preferable that, when the image data reproduced by thereproduction device is stored in the internal memory, the digital camerafurther includes a display control device that brings up a displayprompting to record the image data in the storage medium limitingoverwrite.

The digital camera further includes a reproduction device thatreproduces recorded image data, wherein the reproduction device mayselect and reproduce the image data stored in the internal memory.

The digital camera further includes a number-of-data display device thatdisplays a number of stored image data and it is preferable that thenumber-of-data display device displays a number of image data bychanging over a number of image data in the storage medium limitingoverwrite and a number of image data in the internal memory and a numberof image data.

A digital camera of this invention includes an internal memory, aninsertion port that inserts any of a overwritable storage medium and astorage medium limiting overwrite, an imaging device, a storage controldevice that stores an image taken by the imaging device in any of theinternal memory and the storage medium inserted into the insertion portand a medium detector that detects whether any of a overwritable storagemedium and a storage medium limiting overwrite is inserted into theinsertion port, wherein the storage control device changes a storagecontrol of the image data corresponding to a kind of the storage mediumdetected by the medium detector.

It is preferable that the storage control device stores the imagepreferentially in the overwritable storage medium when the mediumdetector detects that the overwritable storage medium is inserted intothe insertion port and the storage control device stores the imagepreferentially in the internal memory when the medium detector detectsthat the storage medium limiting overwrite is inserted into theinsertion port. It is preferable that the storage control device storesan image in the overwritable storage medium when an image can be storedin the overwritable storage medium in the even that the medium detectordetects the overwritable storage medium and the storage control devicestores the image in the internal memory when an image cannot be storedin the overwritable storage medium.

It is preferable that the storage control device stores an image takenby the imaging device in a storage medium when an image data can bestored in the storage medium inserted into the insertion port and thestorage control device stores an image taken by the imaging device in aninternal memory when an image data cannot be stored in a storage medium.The digital camera may further include a transcribe control device thattranscribes an image stored in the internal memory to a storage mediumlimiting overwrite.

A digital camera of this invention includes an internal memory, aninsertion port into which a storage medium is inserted, an imagingdevice and a storage control device that stores an image taken by theimaging device in any of the internal memory and the storage mediuminserted into the insertion port.

When the image can be stored in the internal memory, the storage controldevice may store the image taken by the imaging device in the internalmemory and the storage control device may store the image taken by theimaging device in the storage medium when the image data cannot bestored in the internal memory. It is preferable that the digital camerafurther includes a transcribe device that transcribes the image storedin the internal memory to the storage medium. When an image can bestored in the internal memory in the even that the medium detectordetects the storage medium limiting overwrite, the storage controldevice may store an image in the internal memory and the storage controldevice may store an image in the storage medium limiting overwrite whenan image cannot be stored in the internal memory. When an image can bestored in the internal memory in the even that the medium detectordetects the storage medium limiting overwrite, the storage controldevice may store an image in the internal memory and, when an imagecannot be stored in the internal memory, the storage control device maystore an image in the storage medium limiting overwrite. It ispreferable that the digital camera further includes a transcribe devicethat transcribes the image stored in the internal memory to the storagemedium limiting overwrite.

The digital camera further includes a storage specifying device thatspecifies so as to store the image in the internal memory by the storagecontrol device, wherein it is preferable that a storage medium limitinga number of overwrite is capable of being inserted into the insertionport and, when the storage specifying device does not specify anything,the storage control device stores the image in the storage mediumlimiting overwrite.

It is preferable that the digital camera further includes a transcribecontrol device that transcribes the image data stored in the internalmemory to the storage medium limiting overwrite. It is preferable that aoverwritable storage medium is capable of being inserted into theinsertion port too and the storage control device stores the imagepreferentially in the overwritable storage medium when the overwritablestorage medium is inserted into the insertion port.

It is preferable that the digital camera further includes a storagespecifying device that specifies on which to store the image by thestorage control device in any of the internal memory and the storagemedium and a storage control auto changer that automatically stores theimage in another when the image cannot be stored in either of theinternal memory or the storage medium specified by the storagespecifying device.

It is preferable that any of a overwritable storage medium and a storagemedium limiting overwrite is inserted into the insertion port and thedigital camera further includes a medium detector that detects whetherany of a overwritable storage medium and a storage medium limitingoverwrite is inserted into the insertion port, wherein the storagecontrol device stores the image taken by the imaging device inoverwritable storage medium when the medium detector detects that theoverwritable storage medium is inserted into the insertion port and thestorage control device stores the image taken by the imaging device inthe internal memory when the medium detector detects that the storagemedium limiting overwrite is inserted into the insertion port. Thedigital camera further includes a transcribe control device thattranscribes the image stored in the internal memory to the storagemedium limiting overwrite.

The digital camera may further includes a prohibiting device thatprohibits the storage control device from working when the image can bestored in neither of the internal memory and the storage medium insertedinto the insertion port.

The digital camera may further includes a prohibiting device thatprohibits the storage control device from storing the image in theinternal memory even when the image can be stored in the internal memoryin the event that the image data cannot be stored in the storage mediuminserted into the insertion port.

It is preferable that the digital camera further includes a transcribecontrol device that transcribes the image stored in the internal memoryto the storage medium.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a digital camera ina first embodiment of this invention.

FIG. 2 is a main flow chart of control processing to be executed in thefirst embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a flow chart of interrupt image taking processing to beexecuted in the first embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a flow chart of interrupt reproduction processing to beexecuted in the first embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a flow chart of an interrupt reproduction menu to be executedin the first embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a flow chart of an interrupt special delete to be executed inthe first embodiment.

FIG. 7 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a digital camera ina second embodiment of this invention.

FIG. 8 is a main flow chart of control processing to be executed in thesecond embodiment.

FIG. 9 is a flow chart showing priority decision processing of FIG. 8.

FIG. 10 is a flow chart showing a detail of transcription processing ofFIG. 8.

FIG. 11 is a flow chart showing residual capacity display processing ofFIG. 8.

FIG. 12 is a flow chart of an interrupt image taking to be executed inthe second embodiment.

FIG. 13 is a flow chart of interrupt reproduction processing to beexecuted in the second embodiment.

FIG. 14 is a flow chart showing a detail of the reproduction processingof FIG. 13.

FIG. 15 is a flow chart showing of an interrupt reproduction menu to beexecuted in the second embodiment.

FIG. 16 is a flow chart of interrupt power-off processing to be executedin the second embodiment.

FIG. 17 is a flow chart of bulk transcription processing when anall-at-once transcription processing mode is set in the secondembodiment.

FIG. 18 is a flow chart of an interrupt image taking processing when theall-at-once transcription processing mode is set in the secondembodiment.

FIG. 19 is a flow chart of all-at-once transcription processing when theall-at-once transcription processing mode is set in the secondembodiment.

FIG. 20 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a digital camerain a third embodiment of this invention.

FIG. 21 is a flow chart showing control processing at a time of apower-on to be executed in the third embodiment.

FIG. 22 is a view showing a display example displayed on a LCD displaypanel.

FIG. 23 is a flow chart showing of control processing at a time ofchanging a mode to be executed in the third embodiment.

FIG. 24 is a flow chart showing record control processing to be executedin the third embodiment.

FIG. 25 is a flow chart showing record control processing to be executedin the third embodiment.

FIG. 26 is a view showing a display example displayed on a LCD displaypanel.

FIG. 27 is a flow chart showing a memory capacity detection control tobe executed in the third embodiment.

FIG. 28( a) and (b) are views showing a display example displayed on aLCD display panel.

FIG. 29( a) is a view showing a display example of the delete menudisplayed on a LCD display panel.

FIG. 29( b) is a view showing a display example of a warning displayedon a LCD display panel.

FIG. 30 is a flow chart showing a simple delete operation in the thirdembodiment.

FIG. 31 is a flow chart showing a complete delete operation to beexecuted in the third embodiment.

FIG. 32 is a flow chart showing delete control processing to be executedin the third embodiment.

FIG. 33 is a flow chart showing delete control processing to be executedin the third embodiment.

FIG. 34 is a flow chart showing delete control processing to be executedin the third embodiment.

FIG. 35 is a view showing a display example of a warning on a LCDdisplay panel.

FIG. 36 is a view showing a display example of a setting menu on a LCDdisplay panel.

FIG. 37 is a flow chart showing a format control to be executed in thethird embodiment.

FIG. 38 is a flow chart showing file optimization control processing tobe executed in the third embodiment.

FIG. 39 is a flow chart showing format processing to be executed in thethird embodiment.

FIG. 40 is a flow chart showing panorama shooting control processing tobe executed in the third embodiment.

FIG. 41 is a flow chart showing panorama composition control processingto be executed in the third embodiment.

FIG. 42 is a flow chart showing continuous shooting control processingto be executed in the third embodiment.

FIG. 43 is a flow chart showing record inquiry control processing to beexecuted in the third embodiment.

FIG. 44 is a view showing a display example of a print setting menu on aLCD display panel.

FIG. 45 is a flow chart showing print setting control processing to beexecuted in the third embodiment.

FIG. 46 is a flow chart showing setting change control processing to beexecuted in the third embodiment.

FIG. 47 is a flow chart showing setting change control processing to beexecuted in the third embodiment.

FIG. 48 is a flow chart showing right/left rotation control processingto be executed in the third embodiment.

FIG. 49 is a flow chart showing right/left rotation control processingto be executed in the third embodiment.

FIG. 50 is a flow chart showing right/left rotation control processingto be executed in the third embodiment.

FIG. 51 is a flow chart showing index data creation control processingto be executed in the third embodiment.

FIG. 52 is a flow chart showing transfer management control processingto be executed in the third embodiment.

FIG. 53 is a flow chart showing record control processing to be executedin a fourth embodiment.

FIG. 54 is a view showing a display example of reproducing an image on aLCD display panel.

FIG. 55 is a flow chart showing capacity secure control processing to beexecuted in the fourth embodiment.

FIG. 56 is a flow chart showing residual capacity display controlprocessing to be executed in the fourth embodiment.

FIG. 57 is a view showing a display example of a number of remainingframes on a LCD display panel.

FIG. 58 is a flow chart showing battery related control processing to beexecuted in the fourth embodiment.

FIG. 59 is a flow chart showing battery-related control processing to beexecuted in the fourth embodiment.

FIG. 60 is a view showing a message display example on a LCD displaypanel.

FIG. 61 is a flow chart showing battery-related control processing inthe fourth embodiment.

FIG. 62 is a flow chart showing battery-related control processing inthe fourth embodiment.

FIG. 63 is a flow chart showing memory capacity display controlprocessing in the fourth embodiment.

FIG. 64 is a view showing a display example of a number of remainingframes on a LCD display panel.

FIG. 65 is a flow chart showing memory capacity display controlprocessing to be executed in the fourth embodiment.

FIG. 66 is a flow chart showing memory capacity display change controlprocessing to be executed in the fourth embodiment.

FIG. 67 is a flow chart showing image reproduction control processing tobe executed in the fourth embodiment.

FIG. 68 is a flow chart showing reproduction change control processingto be executed in the fourth embodiment.

FIG. 69 is a view showing a display example of a reproduction menu on aLCD display.

FIG. 70 is a view showing a display example of reproducing plural imagedata on a LCD display panel.

FIG. 71 is a flow chart showing image delete control processing to beexecuted in the fourth embodiment.

FIG. 72 is a block diagram showing a configuration of an image storageapparatus in a fifth embodiment of this invention.

FIG. 73 is a flow chart showing image management control processing tobe executed in the fifth embodiment.

FIG. 74 is a view showing a display example of a setting menu to beexecuted in the fifth embodiment.

FIG. 75 is a flow chart showing image management control processing tobe executed in the fifth embodiment.

FIG. 76 is a flow chart showing image management control processing tobe executed in the fifth embodiment.

FIG. 77 is a view showing a display example of a setting menu in thefifth embodiment.

FIG. 78( a) and (b) are views showing a display example of a settingmenu in the fifth embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

A digital camera in accordance with a first embodiment of this inventionwill be described hereinafter. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing adigital camera system of the first embodiment in accordance with thisinvention. As FIG. 1 shows, digital camera 1 consists ofcontrol/processor unit 5, LCD display panel 6, operation unit 7, imagingdevice 8, A/D converter 9, display buffer 10, Raw data buffer 11,digital input/output terminal 12 and the like. Operation unit 7 is aunit whereby a user selects any of operations of digital camera 1, forinstance, including a mode selection switch and a shutter releasebutton. Imaging device 8 has an image sensor of approximately 3 millionpixels and converts a subject image through a taking lens (not shown)electrically.

Digital camera 1 is provided with card slot 2 for inserting a storagemedium of a solid-state memory card. Digital camera 1 can acceptselectively overwritable storage medium 3 that is typically used as astorage medium of a digital camera and write-once storage medium 4capable of writing once as a storage medium. Overwritable storage medium3 and write-once storage medium 4 can be inserted into card slot 2. FIG.1 shows what write-once storage medium 4 is inserted into card slot 2. Auser operates operation unit 7 to select a shooting mode or areproduction mode while viewing a menu displayed on LCD display panel 6.When the shooting mode is selected, an optical image through a takinglens (not shown) is successively converted into an electric image signalby imaging device 8. Until a shutter is released in response to anoperation of operation unit 7, control/processor unit 5 controls imagingdevice 8 and skips/reads converted electric image data. Skipped/readelectric image data is digitally converted to skipped image data by A/Dconverter 9 and then sent to control/processor unit 5.

Control/processor unit 5 converts skipped image data from A/D converter9 to display image data and sends the display image data to displaybuffer 10. When the shooting mode is set, as imaging device 8successively takes photographs, the skipped image data is alsosuccessively sent to control/processor unit 5 and then display buffer 10is successively overwritten one after another by new display image data.Accordingly, An image successively taken by imaging device 8 isdisplayed as a moving image via LCD display panel 6 and LCD displaypanel 6 functions as a finder of digital camera 1.

When a shutter release button is pressed, control/processor unit 5 readsout all pixels of an electric image signal controlling imaging device 8and digitally converts the read-out electric image signal by A/Dconverter 9. Digital data obtained in this way is Raw data outputtedfrom an image sensor of imaging device 8. Raw data from A/D converter 9is sent to Raw data buffer 11 and is temporally stored therein. Whenstorage of Raw data is finished, imaging device 8 performs skip/read-outprocessing again and LCD display panel 6 displays a moving image basedupon skipped image data.

As Raw data buffer 11 has capacity equivalent to about 10 images, it canstore up to 10 images at maximum in response to an operation of ashutter release button. By the operation of the shutter release button,Raw data stored in Raw data buffer 11 is immediately sent tocontrol/processor unit 5 wherein image processing such as aninterpolation and a white balance adjustment and compression process isperformed. Data processed by the image processing and compressionprocess is stored in write-once storage medium 4 inserted into card slot2. When storage in write-once storage medium 4 is complete and thecomplete storage is confirmed, the Raw data already sent tocontrol/processor unit 5 is deleted from Raw data buffer 11 or getsready for being overwritten by new Raw data.

Capacity of approx. 10 images at Raw data buffer 11 is for storingplural Raw data at the same time when a subsequent image is taken beforeprocessing on an image at control/processor unit 5 is not complete in acontinuous shooting mode.

A residual capacity amount of write-once storage medium 4 is detected bycontrol/processor unit 5 and displayed on LCD panel 6. When the residualcapacity amount of write-once storage medium 4 becomes empty, a messageprompting to update the storage medium is displayed on LCD panel 6. Auser acknowledges a necessity to update it with a fresh medium via adisplay screen of LCD display panel 6. Write-once storage medium 4 ispulled out from digital camera 1, then an image stored in write-oncestorage medium 4 is retrieved using PCs and the like. Or, withwrite-once storage medium 4 inside card slot 2, a digital communicationcable is connected to digital input/output terminal 12 and then theimage can be retrieved too over the digital communication cable.

When overwritable storage medium 3 instead of write-once storage medium4 is inserted into card slot 2, digital camera 1 works almost the sameway as the foregoing. In this case, however, it is possible to select anunwanted image from the image displayed on LCD display panel 6 anddelete the unwanted image from storage medium 3 via an operation ofoperation unit 7. Thus, when overwritable storage medium 3 is used, newmemory capacity for storing new image data can be secured by deletingthe unwanted image even when residual capacity of a storage medium getsempty.

Contrary to this, in the event that write-once storage medium 4 is used,it is necessary to update the storage medium with a fresh medium whenresidual capacity of the storage medium gets empty. In order that adifference in usage due to its characteristics of each storage mediumdoes not confuse a user, LCD display panel 6 displays so as to show thatany of write-once storage medium 4 or overwritable storage medium 3 isinserted into card slot 2.

So far, a configuration of digital camera 1 in accordance with the firstembodiment of this invention has been described. An explanation aboutwork of digital camera 1 will be given hereinafter.

FIG. 2 is a main flow chart showing a control processing ofcontrol/processor unit 5 according to the first embodiment. In step S1,when a power switch is turned on via operation unit 7, it is bootdigital camera 1 in a record mode. In step S2, it is checked whether ornot a storage medium is inserted into card slot 2 and when the storagemedium is inserted into card slot 2, the flow proceeds to step S3. Instep S3, property information on the storage medium is read in via aconnector of card slot 2. The property information is information thatrefers to a kind and capacity of a storage medium and also includesinformation on which a medium is in use, write-once storage medium 4 oroverwritable storage medium 3.

In step S4, it is checked whether or not a medium inserted into cardslot 2 is write-once storage medium 4 based upon property informationinputted. When it is detected that write-once storage medium 4 isinserted, the flow proceeds to step S5. In step S5, LCD display panel 6displays that the storage medium in use is write-once storage medium 4.This display is kept on as long as the power switch is on.

In step S6, it is to process nullification of a delete instruction. Withoverwritable storage medium 3 in use, it is possible to give a deleteinstruction of a stored image and secure capacity for new image data bydeleting the image. Processing of nullifying the delete instruction isprocessing to make the delete instruction invalid even if theinstruction to delete an image is given. The deletion instruction isperformed through an operation of operation unit 7 with a display of animage in question on LCD display panel 6. And also, it is possible toautomatically give a delete instruction from an outside via digitalinput/output terminal 12 after an image is automatically read outoutside via digital input/output terminal 12. When processing ofnullifying the delete instruction is performed, the delete instructionbecomes null and void, and then processing to delete an image is notexecuted.

In step S7, processing of nullifying a protect release instruction isperformed. As described above, it is possible to instruct a deletion ofan image in case of overwritable storage medium 3. But, to avoid aninadvertent deletion, an instruction to protect an image from a deleteoperation and an instruction to release this protect every each imagecan be given via operation unit 7. Processing of nullifying the protectrelease instruction is processing to make the protect releaseinstruction invalid if the protect release is instructed. Herein,write-once storage medium 4 is configured in such a way that an imagecannot be overwritten owing to protect processing, so it is to make suresuch that processing of nullifying the protect release instruction doesnot inadvertently release the protect processing.

In step S8, it is to enable an interrupt special delete. As overwritingcannot be performed on write-once storage medium 4, new memory capacitycannot be secured even if a stored image is deleted. However, there is acase where images that a user does not want to keep by all means or showto anyone happen to be stored in write-once storage medium 4. Thus,processing of an interrupt special delete makes it possible to deletethese images stored in write-once storage medium 4. A detail ofprocessing of nullifying the interrupt special delete will be describedlater.

In step S9, after processing the foregoing, it is to detect residualcapacity of a storage medium and display the detected capacity on LCDdisplay panel 6. In step S4, when it is detected that the storage mediumis not write-once storage medium 4, the flow proceeds to step S9. Whenresidual capacity of overwritable storage medium 3 is detected, thedetected capacity is displayed on LCD display panel 6.

In step S10, it is to enable an interrupt image taking corresponding toan operation of a shutter release button in operation unit 7. In stepS11, it is to make an interrupt reproduction enabled corresponding to areproduction mode selection in operation unit 7. In step S12, the flowis put on a standby.

On the other hand, when the storage medium is not inserted into cardslot 2 in step S2, the flow proceeds to step S13. In step S13, LCDdisplay panel 6 displays that there is no storage medium inserted intocard slot 2. Then, the flow proceeds to step S12. Accordingly, whenthere is no storage medium inserted into card slot 2, the interruptimaging taking and the interrupt reproduction become disable.

According to the first embodiment, based upon the property informationinputted via the connector of card slot 2 in step S3, a kind of thestorage medium is detected in step S4. But, the first embodiment is notlimited to this example. For example, let a given connector pin out of aplurality of connector pins, provided at a storage medium, connecting tothe storage medium and card slot 2 be for checking the medium. There isprovided the given pin in overwritable storage medium 3, whereaswrite-once storage medium 4 has no given pin. In this case, in step S4,detection of whether the given pin is connected to the connector on aside of slot card 2 permits to judge whether write-once storage medium 4is inserted. Or, an exterior shape of the storage medium is soconfigured as to be different between overwritable storage medium 3 andwrite-once storage medium 4, so a kind of the storage medium can bedetected. For example, a notch is provided at a part of the exteriorshape of write-once storage medium 4. In this case, by providing aswitch or so to detect presence or absence of a notch or so provided onthe side of the storage medium, it can be judged whether or notwrite-once storage medium 4 is inserted.

Next, a detail of work of digital camera 1 in accordance with the firstembodiment will be described.

(Processing of the Interrupt Image Taking: FIG. 3)

First, work in a case where a shooting operation is performed withprocessing of the interrupt image taking in step S10 of the flow chartin FIG. 1 will be described using a flow chart of FIG. 3. FIG. 3 is theflow chart showing a processing procedure of the interrupt image takingto be executed in control/processor unit 5. Pressing a shutter releasebutton in operation unit 7 lets this processing start from step S21.

In step S22, it is to perform image taking processing and storageprocessing. Control/processor unit 5 retrieves an image via imagingdevice 8, A/D converter 9 and Raw data buffer 11. Further, afterprocessing such an image interpolation and an image compression isperformed, the image is stored in the storage medium via card slot 2.

In step S23, it is judged whether or not write-once storage medium 4 isinserted into card slot 2. This judgment can be made based upon theproperty information inputted in step S3 of FIG. 2. When it is judgedthat write-once storage medium 4 is inserted, the flow proceeds to stepS24. In step S24, the image stored in write-once storage medium 4 instep S22 is automatically protected so as not to be overwritten. In stepS25, LCD display panel 6 displays that the image appearing on a displayscreen is protected.

In step S26, it is checked if there is residual capacity in write-oncestorage medium 4. When it is judged that there is no capacity or noenough capacity to store a new image, the flow proceeds to step S27. Instep S27, LCD display panel 6 displays that the storage medium in use isto be updated. Then, in step S28, the flow gets back to the main flow.In step S26, when it is judged that there is residual capacity, the flowproceeds to step S28 and gets back to the main flow. On the other hand,when it is judged in step S23 that the storage medium is overwritablestorage medium 3, not write-once storage medium 4, the flow proceeds tostep S28 and gets back to the main flow.

Like this, when overwritable storage medium 3 is inserted, processing insteps 26 and 27 are not performed, so LCD display panel 6 does notdisplay that the storage medium in use is to be updated even whenresidual capacity of the storage medium becomes less.

Write-once storage medium 4 is basically the same configuration withoverwritable storage medium 3 rather than an image quality stored inmedium 4 getting deteriorated due to excessive overwriting beyond aperformance warranty against repeated overwriting. Then, in step S24 ofFIG. 3, write-once storage medium 4 is configured such that automaticprotect processing via control/processor unit 5 inhibits a user fromoverwriting and deleting the image and does not confuse the user. But,the first embodiment is not limited to this example and, for example,when write-once storage medium 4 in itself is configured such thatoverwriting and deleting are banned, processing in steps S24 and S25 canbe omitted.

(Processing of Interrupt Reproduction: FIG. 4)

Next, work in a case where a reproduction operation is performed withprocessing of the interrupt reproduction enabled in step S11 of the flowchart in FIG. 1 will be described using a flow chart of FIG. 4. FIG. 4is the flow chart showing a processing procedure of the interruptreproduction to be executed in control/processor unit 5. Selecting areproduction mode via an operation of operation unit 7 lets thisprocessing start from step S31.

In step S32, it is to enable an interrupt reproduction menu. Thereproduction menu is various kind of an operation menu that can be setin the reproduction mode.

In step S33, it is to process a reproduction. A latest image stored inwrite-once storage medium 4 is reproduced on LCD panel unit 6. An imagedisplayed on LCD display panel 6 can be changed at will via operationunit 7 and an image advance can be performed. When a thumbnail displayis selected via operation unit 7, all of images stored in the storagemedium are displayed on LCD display panel 6. Every time a singleoperation of the reproduction process is finished in step S33, the flowproceeds to step S34.

In step S34, it is judged if an operation to finish reproduction isperformed via operation unit 7 and when the reproduction finishingoperation is performed, the flow proceeds to step S35. In step S35, itis to make an interrupt reproduction menu disabled and then in step S36,the flow gets back to the main flow of FIG. 2. Then, a mode is changedfrom the reproduction mode to a record mode. When the operation tofinish reproduction is not performed in step S34, the flow gets back tostep S33 and processing in steps S33 and S34 is repeatedly performeduntil the operation to finish reproduction is implemented.

(Processing of an Interrupt Reproduction Menu: FIG. 5)

Next, work in a case where a reproduction menu is selected withprocessing of the interrupt reproduction menu enabled in step S32 of theflow chart in FIG. 4 will be described using a flow chart of FIG. 5.FIG. 5 is the flowchart showing a processing procedure of interruptreproduction menu processing to be executed in control/processor unit 5.The reproduction menu is various kind of the operation menu that can beset in a reproduction mode and an operation item such as the thumbnaildisplay, an enlarged display, a bulk delete of images, an individualdelete of an image, a protect image and a release protect image deleteis displayed on LCD display panel 6 as an itemized menu. One of itemslisted in the menu can be selected via operation unit 7. Selecting thereproduction mode via operation unit 7 lets this processing start fromstep S41.

In step S42, it is checked whether write-once storage medium 4 isinserted into card slot 2 and when write-once storage medium 4 isinserted, an item change processing of a display menu is performed insteps S43 through S45.

In step S43, it is to process a non-display of deleted menu and, morespecifically, an operation item such as the bulk image delete and thesingle image delete is excluded from a reproduction menu so as not to bedisplayed on LCD display panel 6. In step S44, a special delete menudisplay processing is performed and, more specifically, a special deleteis added to the menu as an operation item so that the special delete isdisplayed on LCD display panel 6. Also, in step S45, it is to process anon-display of a protect menu and, more specifically, an operation itemsuch as a protect of an image and a release protect of an image isexcluded from the reproduction menu so that such operation items are notdisplayed on LCD display panel 6. With the above processing in steps S43to S45, menu items excluded from the reproduction menu cannot beselected via operation unit 7.

In step S46, the reproduction menu including a result of the item changeperformed in step S43 through step S45 is displayed. In step S42, on theother hand, when the storage medium in use is overwritable storagemedium 3, not write-once storage medium 4, the flow proceeds to stepS46, not changing an operation item. In this case, operation items suchas the thumbnail display, the enlarged display, the bulk image delete, asingle image delete, a protect image and the release protect image andso are displayed as the list menu on LCD display panel 6.

In step S47, from reproduction menu displayed on LCD display panel 6, anitem in the list is selected via operation unit 7 and a selectedoperation item via operation unit 7 is executed. Every time processingof the selected operation item is complete, the flow proceeds to stepS48. In step S48, it is checked if an operation of closing areproduction menu is performed via operation unit 7. When the operationis performed, the flow proceeds to step S49.

In step s49, it is to format a menu display. In a case where theoperation item change processing is performed in step S43 to step S45, amenu screen returns to the reproduction menu display of standardoperation items such as thumbnail display, an enlarged display, the bulkimage delete, the single image delete, the protect image and the releaseprotect image and so forth. And then, the flow gets back to the flow ofinterrupt reproduction in step S50 of FIG. 4.

When the operation of closing the reproduction menu is not executed instep S48, the flow gets back to step S47 and processing in steps S47 andS48 is repeatedly performed until the operation to finish thereproduction menu is executed. After the reproduction menu display isperformed in step S46, when the operation to finish the reproductionmenu is executed not selecting the operation item, the flow gets back tostep S49 to format the menu display.

In the interrupt reproduction menu processing like the foregoing, theprocessing to nullify the delete instruction and the release protectinstruction in steps S6 and S7 of FIG. 2 is performed and further, theprocessing in steps S43 and S45 lets these operation items be deletedfrom the reproduction menu. Accordingly, the foregoing processing canavoid a user from being confused when the user operates and also becomesa safety measure just in case of an error.

However, in the event that processing of step S6 and step S7 are soconfigured as to be surely performed, processing of steps S43 and S45can be omitted. In this case, the delete image and a protect-relatedoperation item are displayed on LCD display panel 6 as a selectableoperation item on the surface even when write-once storage medium 4 isinserted into card slot 2. However, even if the delete image and theprotect-related operation item are selected, none of the delete imageand the release protect can be executed since processing to nullify theinstruction is performed in steps S6 and S7. And in a case whereprocessing in steps S43 and S45 of FIG. 5 are so configured as to besurely executed, steps S6 and S7 of FIG. 2 can be omitted. But, in thiscase, instead of step S6 of FIG. 2, it is preferable that there isprovided a processing step to nullify a delete instruction from anoutside via digital input/output terminal 12.

Also, it is possible that processing of an item change of the displaymenu in steps S43 to S45 is so configured as to be executed all at oncein steps S6 and step S7.

(Interrupt Special Delete Processing)

Next, work in a case where a special delete operation is performed withprocessing of the interrupt special delete enabled in step S8 of theflow chart in FIG. 2 will be described using a flow chart of FIG. 6.FIG. 6 is the flow chart showing a processing procedure of interruptspecial delete processing to be executed in control/processor unit 5.This processing will start from step S51 by selecting a special deleteitem from the reproduction menu with an image being reproduced on LCDdisplay panel 6.

In step S52, overwrite disabled notice is displayed on LCD display panel6. With this display, a user is notified that deletion of an imagecannot secure new capacity in write-once storage medium 4. Thisoverwrite disabled notice display notifies a user that a special deleteoperation is different from a normal delete operation againstoverwritable storage medium 3 not to confuse a user.

In step S53, a restore disable warning is displayed on LCD display panel6. Deletion to be performed against overwritable storage medium 3 is notto delete image information itself from the storage medium. Namely, whenthe deletion of an image is instructed, data on management informationcorresponding to the image is caused to be in a deleted state and then astorage area of image information specified by management information ismade enabled to be overwritten. Accordingly, even with the deleteoperation, unless an area actually storing the image information isoverwritten by another information, it is possible to restore the imageagain using special restoration software. The management informationherein is information such as FAT (File Allocation Table) datacontrolling image data stored in the storage medium.

On the other hand, if an image is deleted by overwriting managementinformation against the write-once storage medium 4, there is apossibility that a new image is overwritten by utilizing a storage areaof information about an image to be deleted. In this case, the imageoverwritten by the new image gets broken and cannot be restored.Accordingly, the first embodiment employs a deletion method with respectto write-once storage medium 4, which will be explained hereinafter.With this method, once an image of write-once storage medium 4 isdeleted, it becomes impossible to restore the image. Thus, the restoredisable warning display notifies a user that the image restoration isimpossible. In this way, in the event that an image is deleted fromwrite-once storage medium 4, the image restoration becomes impossible,which meets a user's intention that he or she does not want to havepictures viewed. In step S54, it is checked if a delete execution isselected via operation unit 7 within a given period of time since thenotice and the warnings in steps S52 and step S53 are displayed on LCDdisplay panel 6. When the delete execution is selected in step S54,assuming that a user is convinced with the notice and the warningsdisplayed on LCD display panel 6 so that the user selects the deleteoperation, the flow proceeds to step S55.

In step S55, the storage area of the image to be deleted specified bymanagement information is overwritten by meaningless information and theimage information itself is deleted.

In step S56, it is to process a change of management information. Morespecifically, management information is so changed as to exclude animage to be deleted from a reproduction candidate. In a case of a normaldelete against a overwritable storage medium, management information isso changed as to make a storage area corresponding to the image to bedeleted capable of being overwritten. Like this, by changing managementinformation so as to exclude an image to be deleted from a reproductioncandidate, the image storage area corresponding to the changedmanagement information is already occupied and overwriting cannot beperformed in this area, so this area cannot be re-used for storing newimage data. And, as information about the storage area of the image tobe deleted is excluded from the reproduction candidate, the imageoverwritten by the meaningless information cannot be reproduced.

When the special delete operation of such the processing is complete,the flow proceeds to step S57 and returns to processing of the interruptreproduction menu of FIG. 5. On the other hand, in step S54, when a userbacks down on an intention of the special delete in response to thenotice and the warnings displayed on LCD display panel 6 does notimplement an execution within the given period of time via operationunit 7, the flow proceeds to step S57 and returns to processing of theinterrupt reproduction menu of FIG. 5.

When write-once storage medium 4 is so configured as to inhibit a userfrom to overwriting and deleting, it is not necessary to consider from astandpoint of preventing the image storage area of the storage medium asdescribed above from inadvertently being overwritten. But, when an imagestored in write-once storage medium 4 is made capable of being deletedwith reference to write-once storage medium 4, it is necessary to employa delete method different from one applicable to overwritable storagemedium 3. It is preferable that the notice and warning as described insteps S52 and S53 are given to the user. Therefore, in the event thatwrite-once storage medium 4 so configured in advance as to inhibit auser from overwriting and deleting is used, the same processing like theinterrupt special delete processing of FIG. 6 is needed.

Second Embodiment

Next, an explanation about a digital camera in accordance with a secondembodiment of this invention will be given hereinafter usingaccompanying diagrams.

FIG. 7 is a block diagram showing a digital camera system in accordancewith the second embodiment of this invention. In FIG. 7, the samenumeral references are given to the same configuring unit and the likeas the first embodiment of FIG. 1 and its explanation is omitted. Thingsdifferent from the first embodiment will be mainly describedhereinafter.

As shown in FIG. 7, digital camera 21 of the second embodiment hasinternal nonvolatile memory 22. Nonvolatile memory 22 stores image dataprocessed by control/processor unit 23 along with write-once storagemedium 4 or overwritable storage medium 3 inserted into card slot 2. Theimage data stored in nonvolatile memory 22 is transcribed to a storagemedium inserted into card slot 2 and then can be retrieved outside.Also, the image data stored in nonvolatile memory 22 can be directlyread out over a digital communication cable connected to digitalinput/output terminal 12.

Work of digital camera 21 in accordance with the second embodiment willbe described hereinafter. First, its outline will be explained.

FIG. 8 is a main flow chart showing a control processing bycontrol/processor 23 of the second embodiment.

In step S61, when a power is ON via operation unit 24, digital camera 21is booted in a record mode. In step S62, it is checked if a storagemedium is inserted into card slot 2 and if the storage medium isinserted, the flow proceeds to step S63. In step S63, propertyinformation about the storage medium is read in via a connector of cardslot 2.

In step S64, based upon the property information inputted in step S3, itis checked if write-once storage medium 4 is in use. If write-oncestorage medium 4 is in use, the flow proceeds to step S65, wherein adisplay showing that write-once storage medium 4 is in use appears onLCD display panel 6. This display runs on as long as the power is ON.

In step S66, it is to process nullification of the release protectinstruction. Here, this processing is to nullify the delete instructiondirected for image data stored in write-once storage medium 4. However,when a delete instruction is given to image data stored in nonvolatilememory 22, this delete instruction is effective.

In step S67, it is to process nullification of the release protectinstruction. Herein, it is to make the release protect instruction givento the image data stored into write-once storage medium 4 invalid.However, when the release protect instruction is given to image datastored in nonvolatile memory 22, this release instruction is effective.

In step S68, it is to make an interrupt special delete enabled. Herein,it is to make the interrupt special delete against image data stored inwrite-once storage medium 4 enabled. But an interrupt special deletetowards image data stored in nonvolatile memory 22 is disabled.

In Step S69, it is to process priority decision to decide a priorityorder of a storage location to store image data.

Specifically, it is decided which process is used to store image datataken by imaging device 8 and image-processed by control/processor 23,“memory priority process” letting nonvolatile memory 22 have a storagepriority or “medium priority process” letting an storage medium insertedinto card slot 2 have a storage priority.

In the “memory priority process”, image data is first stored innonvolatile memory 22 even when a write-once storage medium has residualcapacity and then with a user's operation and confirmation etc, imagedata is transcribed to write-once storage medium 4. Image cannot beoverwritten in write-once storage medium 4, so image storage iscarefully performed with the memory priority. In the “medium priorityprocess”, however, as long as the storage medium inserted into card slot2 has memory capacity, image data is stored firstly in the storagemedium and when memory capacity of the storage medium becomes empty,image data is then stored in nonvolatile memory 22. A detail of prioritydecision processing will be explained later.

In step S70, image data stored in nonvolatile memory 22, when the poweris ON, is transcribed to the storage medium inserted into card slot 2. Adetail about transcription processing will be described later, too. Instep S71, it is to process residual capacity display. This process willstart when the power is on, which will be also detailed later.

In step S72, it is to make interrupt reproduction in response to areproduction mode selection enabled. In step S73, it is to make aninterrupt power-off operation in response to the power-off operationalso enabled. Accordingly, the flow becomes on standby in step S74.

When no storage medium is inserted into card slot 2 in step S62, theflow proceeds to step S75 to display an internal memory on LCD displaypanel 6. This internal memory display shows a state in which there is nostorage medium inside card slot 2 and image storage is to be executedwith only internal nonvolatile memory 22. This display runs on as longas the power is on. And “memory priority process” is performed in stepS76, then the flow proceeds to processing of residual capacity displayof step S71.

In step S64, when the storage medium is not write-once storage medium 4,the flow proceeds to step S77 in which it is judged that overwritablestorage medium 3 is inserted into card slot 2 and LCD display panel 6displays that the storage medium is overwritable storage medium 3. Thisdisplay runs on as long as the power is on. Then, “medium priorityprocess” is performed in step S78, and then the flow proceeds totranscription processing of step S70.

Processing shown in FIG. 8 is executed not only when the power is on,but also when a storage medium inserted into card slot 2 is changedwhile the power is on, that is, write-once storage medium 4 is updatedwith a overwritable storage medium and vice versa.

Next, a detail about work of digital camera 21 in accordance with thesecond embodiment will be given hereinafter.

(Priority Decision Processing: FIG. 9)

A detail about priority decision processing in step S69 of FIG. 8 willbe described hereinafter using a flow chart of FIG. 9. FIG. 9 is theflow chart showing a processing procedure of priority decisionprocessing to be executed in control/processor 23.

Control/processor 23 has settings defaulted to perform “medium priorityprocess” if nothing is set at a time of inserting write-once storagemedium 4. Therefore, in a case where “memory priority process” is set, asetting change is performed via operation unit 24 at a time of insertingwrite-once storage medium 4. This setting change will be kept untilwrite-once storage medium 4 is pulled out of card slot 2 or unless thesetting change is performed again.

In FIG. 8, when the flow reaches step S69, priority decision processingstarts from step S81 and in step S82, it is checked if “memory priorityprocess” is set via operation unit 24. If memory priority process” isset, the flow proceeds to step S83. In step S83, it is to decide toperform “memory priority process”. In step S84, when “memory priorityprocess” is performed, as it is necessary to transcribe image data ofnonvolatile memory 22 to write-once storage medium 4, an interrupttranscription is made enabled. In step S85, this processing is finishedand the flow proceeds to step S70 of FIG. 8.

When “memory priority process” is not set in step S82, it is to decideto perform “medium priority process” in step S86 and the flow proceedsto step S85.

(Transcription Processing: FIG. 10)

An explanation about a detail about transcription processing in step S70of the flow chart of FIG. 8 will be given using a flow chart of FIG. 10.FIG. 10 is the flow chart showing the detail of transcription processingto be executed in control/processor 23.

In the flow chart of FIG. 8, wherein the flow reaches step S70,transcription processing will start from step S87. In step S88, it ischecked if image data is stored in nonvolatile memory 22. As a casewhere there is image data stored in nonvolatile memory 22 at a time ofturning a power on, it can be thought that image data stored by “memorypriority process” remains intact without being transcribed or image datais stored in nonvolatile memory 22 due to emptiness of capacity of thestorage medium in “medium priority process”. In a latter case, thetranscription becomes automatically performed when the medium insertedinto card slot 2 is updated and the power is turned on.

In step S88, when image data is stored in nonvolatile memory 22, theflow proceeds to step S89. In step S89, it is checked if the mediuminside card slot 2 has residual capacity. If there is residual capacity,the flow proceeds to step S90. In step S90, it is checked if “memorypriority process” is set and if memory priority process” is set, theflow proceeds to step S91. When “memory priority process” is set, thestorage medium inserted into card slot 2 is write-once storage medium 4.

In step S91, it is to reproduce an image stored in nonvolatile memory 22and to be transcribed on LCD display panel 6 and further display amessage asking if image to be transcribed is transcribed to the storagemedium thereon. In step S92, it is checked if operation unit 24 isoperated within a given period of time after the image to be transcribedwas reproduced and the message asking for transcription was displayed onLCD display panel 6. If unit 24 is operated within the given period oftime, the flow proceeds to step S93.

In step S93, it is detected whether the operation of operation unit 24is the transcription operation or the delete operation. When theoperation of operation unit 24 is the transcription operation, the flowproceeds to step S94, wherein it is to execute transcription of imagedata stored in nonvolatile memory 23 to write-once storage medium 4.Further, in step S95, it is to display that the same automatic protectprocessing and protect processing of image data with respect towrite-once storage medium 4 as in steps S24 and S25 of FIG. 3 of thefirst embodiment were performed.

In step S96, it is to delete the image data of nonvolatile memory 22whose transcription to the storage medium was complete and get anincrease in residual capacity of nonvolatile memory 22.

In step S93, when the operation performed by operation unit 24 is notthe transcription operation, it is presumed that operation unit 24performs the delete operation and the flow proceeds to step S96. In stepS96, it is to delete the image data of nonvolatile memory 22 withouttranscribing the image data to write-once storage medium 4 and then getan increase in residual capacity of nonvolatile memory 22 gets.

In step S97, it is checked if there is other data in nonvolatile memory22 and if there is the other data in nonvolatile memory 22, the flowgets back to step S89 wherein processing of transcribing image data iscontinued. When there is no image data in nonvolatile memory 22, theflow proceeds to step S98 and this processing is ended. And then, theflow proceeds to the residual capacity display processing of step S71

In step S90, when it is not “memory priority process”, the flow proceedsto step S99 without processing the confirmations in steps S91 and S92,assuming that “medium priority process” is set. In step S99, it ischecked if the storage medium inserted into card slot 2 is write-oncestorage medium 4 and if the storage medium inserted into card slot 2 iswrite-once storage medium 4, the flow proceeds to step S94, wherein theimage data stored in nonvolatile memory 22 is transcribed to write-oncestorage medium 4. Further, in step S95, it is to process an autoprotect/display and also in step S96, it is to delete the imagecorresponding to the image stored in nonvolatile memory 22 and whosetranscription to write-once storage medium 4 was complete. Accordingly,the image data transcription processing can be executed without user'stranscription operation.

On the other hand, in step S99, when the medium is not write-oncestorage medium 4, the flow proceeds to step S100, assuming thatoverwritable storage medium 3 is inserted into card slot 2. In stepS100, the image data stored in nonvolatile memory 22 is transcribed tooverwritable medium 3 and the flow proceeds to step S96.

In step S92, when operation via operation unit 24 is not operated withinthe given period of time after the image to be transcribed wasreproduced and the message asking for transcription was displayed on LCDdisplay panel 6, the flow proceeds to step S97 skipping steps from S93to S96, assuming that processing on the image is on hold. At thismoment, the image to be transcribed remains in nonvolatile memory 22intact. Image data put on hold is never handled as “next image data”.When transcription processing re-starts from step S87, processing abouttranscription to the storage medium is newly performed on such the imagedata on hold.

In step S88, when there is no image data in nonvolatile memory 22 and instep S89, when there is no residual capacity in the storage mediuminside card slot 2, the flow proceeds to step S98 and this processing isended. When there is no storage medium inside card slot 2, it is judgedin step S89 that there is no residual capacity in the storage medium andthen this processing is ended.

As described in the foregoing, when “memory priority process” is set,processing of steps S91 and 92 prevents the unwanted image data frombeing stored in write-once storage medium 4 capable of being written onetime only.

With such processing of steps S90 and S99, when “medium priorityprocess” is set, image data, which is stored in nonvolatile memory 22since the storage medium becomes full and nonvolatile memory 22 storesthe image data, can be surely transcribed to the storage medium evenwhen the storage medium of no residual capacity is updated and the powerswitch is turned on. Also, as described later, when image data inoverwritable storage medium 3 full of images is deleted and capacity issecured to store image data, processing of steps S90 and S99 can surelylet the image data in nonvolatile memory 22 be transcribed to thestorage medium.

(Residual Capacity Display Processing: FIG. 11)

Next, an explanation about a detail of a residual capacity displayprocessing in step S71 of FIG. 8 will be given hereinafter using a flowchart of FIG. 11. FIG. 11 is the flow chart showing a processingprocedure of the residual capacity display processing to be executed incontrol/processor 23. When the flow reaches step S71 of FIG. 8, theresidual capacity display processing starts from step S101. In stepS102, it is judged if “memory priority process”is set. If “memorypriority process”is set, the flow proceeds to step S103. In step S103,residual capacity of nonvolatile memory 22 is displayed on LCD displaypanel 6. When “memory priority process” is set, processing like imagestorage etc cannot be performed if there is no residual capacity innonvolatile memory 22, even if the storage medium inside card slot 2 hasresidual capacity. Namely, to implement “memory priority process”,information about residual capacity of nonvolatile memory 22 isrequired.

In step S104, it is checked if there is residual capacity in nonvolatilememory 22 and if there is not residual capacity, the flow proceeds tostep S105 where a transcription warning display is performed.Specifically, what “memory priority process” cannot be executed anymoreunless otherwise due to a lack of residual capacity of nonvolatilememory 22 is displayed on LCD display panel 6 and a message asking foran image transcription is brought up. And in step S106, after the“memory priority process” setting is forcefully switched to “mediumpriority process”, the flow proceeds to step S107. When it is judged instep S104 that there is residual capacity in nonvolatile memory 22, theflow proceeds to step S107 with the “memory priority process” skippingprocessing of steps S105 and S106.

In step S102, when the “memory priority process” is not set, the flowproceeds to step S108, assuming that the setting is “medium priorityprocess”. In step S108, residual capacity of nonvolatile memory 22 andresidual capacity of the medium inserted into card slot 2 are addedtogether and a summation of residual capacity is displayed on LCDdisplay panel 6. Then, the flow proceeds to step S107. When “mediumpriority process” is set, storage of image data begins from the storagemedium sequentially without storing the image data in nonvolatile memory22. Accordingly, with the display of the summation of residual capacityof nonvolatile memory 22 and the storage medium, a user can judge ifimage data can be stored. In step S107, it is checked if there isresidual capacity in the medium inserted into card slot 2. If there isnot residual capacity, the flow proceeds to step S109 where it ischecked if the medium inserted into card slot 2 is overwritable storagemedium 3. If it is judged in step S109 that the medium is notoverwritable storage medium 3, the flow proceeds to step S110. In stepS110, it is judged that card slot 2 has write-once storage medium 4inserted therein, a message asking for medium replacement is displayedon LCD display panel 6.

In step S109, when overwritable storage medium 3 is inserted into cardslot 2, the flow proceeds to step S112. In step S112, it is to modify adisplay style of the summation of residual capacity displayed in stepS108. For example, by underlining a numeral figure of residual capacityor changing a display color of the numeral figure thereof, the displaystyle of the summation of residual capacity is modified. Like this, whenoverwritable storage medium 3 is in use, a user is notified throughmodification of the display style of the summation of residual capacitythat capacity of the storage medium gets fully occupied. That is, whenoverwritable storage medium 3 is in use as the storage medium, residualcapacity is revived by deleting stored image data, so it is reasonableto give a notice with the display style modification, not displaying themessage asking for medium replacement as performed to write-once storagemedium 4 in step S110. When residual capacity in write-once storagemedium 4 is revived by deletion of stored image data, the display styleof the summation gets back to the normal display style too.

In step S111, it is checked if there is the summation of residualcapacity of the storage medium inserted into card slot 2 and nonvolatilememory 22. When it is judged in step S111 that there is the summation ofresidual capacity, the flow proceeds to step S113, wherein it is to makean interrupt picture taking enabled. Namely, even if there is noresidual capacity in the inserted storage medium, it is judged that thepicture taking is possible when there is residual capacity innonvolatile memory 22. Then, this processing is ended in step S114 andthe flow proceeds to step S72 of FIG. 8.

When it is judged in step S111 that there is no residual capacity in theinserted storage medium and there is not capacity enough to store imagedata even if residual capacity of nonvolatile memory 22 is added to theinserted medium, the flow proceeds to step S115. In step S115, it is todisplay what a memory is full on LCD display panel 6 and the flowproceeds to step S114 to end this processing. Accordingly, when there isno summation of residual capacity, it is impossible to interrupt imagetaking unless the image data is deleted or the storage medium isupdated.

When it is judged in step S107 that there is residual capacity in themedium, the flow proceeds to step S116. In step S116, after the residualcapacity display is performed on LCD display panel 6, the flow proceedsto step S113. Even when there is residual capacity in the storagemedium, a user can judge necessity for replacing the medium through thedisplay of the medium residual capacity.

(Processing to Interrupt Image Taking: FIG. 12)

Work in a case where an image taking operation is performed withprocessing of the interrupt image taking enabled will be describedhereinafter using a flow chart of FIG. 12. FIG. 12 is the flow chartshowing a processing procedure of the interrupt image taking to beexecuted in control/processor 23. This processing will start from stepS121 by pressing a shutter release button of operation unit 24.

In step S122, it is to process an image control/processor 23 reads outan image via imaging device 8, A/D converter 9 and Raw data buffer 11and performs processing like image interpolation and compression etc. Instep S123, it is checked if “memory priority process” is set and when itis judged that “memory priority process” is set, the flow proceeds tostep S124. In this case, card slot 2 has write-once storage medium 4inserted therein. In step S124, it is judged if nonvolatile memory 22has residual capacity and when the memory has capacity, the flowproceeds to step S125 to store the compressed image data in nonvolatilememory 22. Then, the flow proceeds to step S126 to perform processing totranscribe the image data. In step S126, it is judged if write-oncestorage medium 4 inserted into card slot 2 has residual capacity totranscribe the image of nonvolatile memory 22. When the medium 4 hascapacity, the flow proceeds to step S127. In step S127, a message askingif the image data is transcribed is displayed on LCD display panel 6. Atthis moment, an end result image appears on LCD display panel 6 for agiven period of time with the message asking for transcription.

In step S128, it is judged if a transcription operation is performed viaoperation unit 24 within the given period of time since the end resultimage and the message asking for transcription appear on LCD displaypanel 6. In step S128, when it is judged that the transcriptionoperation is performed within the given period of time, the flowproceeds to step S129. In step S129, transcription of the image data towrite-once storage medium 4 is executed and further nonvolatile memory22 gets an increase in residual capacity by deleting the image data ofnonvolatile memory 22. In subsequent step S130, the same automaticprotect processing of image data and display thereof are performed withrespect to write-once storage medium 4 as in steps S24 and S25. Then,the flow proceeds to step S131.

On the other hand, when it is judged in step S126 that there is noresidual capacity in write-once storage medium 4, it is unnecessary toconsider transcription and thus the flow proceeds to step S131. Alsowhen it is judged in step S128 that the transcription operation is notperformed within the given period of time, the flow proceeds to stepS131 too. Anyway, in step S128, it is to judge a presence or an absenceof the transcription operation only and not to accept an image datadelete operation right after the image is shot.

In step S123, when it is judged that “memory priority process” is notset, the flow proceeds to step S132. In step S132, the compressed imagedata is stored in “medium priority process”. Namely, when there isresidual capacity in the medium inserted into card slot 2, the imagedata is to be stored in the medium and when there is no capacity in themedium, the image data is to be stored in nonvolatile memory 22. In stepS133, it is checked if write-once storage medium 4 is inserted into cardslot 2 and when the medium 4 is inserted therein, the flow proceeds tostep S130 and when overwritable storage medium 3 is inserted therein,the flow proceeds to step S131.

When it is judged in step S124 that there is no residual capacity innonvolatile memory 22, “memory priority process” cannot be executed, sothe flow proceeds to step S132 to switch over to “medium priorityprocess”.

In step S131, it is checked if there is summation of residual capacityof the storage medium inserted into card slot 2 and nonvolatile memory22. When it is judged that there is no summation of residual capacityenough to store the image data, the flow proceeds to step S134. In stepS134, it is to make the interrupt image taking disabled and the flowproceeds to step S135. When it is judged in step S131 that there isresidual capacity, the flow proceeds to step S135. In step S135, basedupon a latest image taking status after shot, it is to process aresidual capacity display. This processing is ended in step S136 and theflow gets back to the main flow of FIG. 8 to stand by.

(Processing to Interrupt Reproduction: FIG. 13)

Next, work in a case where a reproduction operation is performed withprocessing of the interrupt reproduction enabled will be describedhereinafter using a flow chart of FIG. 13. FIG. 13 is the flow chartshowing a processing procedure of the interrupt reproduction processingto be executed in control/processor 23. This processing will start fromstep S141 by selecting a reproduction mode via operation unit 24. First,in step S142, it is to make the interrupt reproduction menu enabled.

In step S143, it is to process transcription of image data as shown inthe flow chart of FIG. 10. Namely, when the reproduction mode isselected, the “memory priority process” is set and when the image datais stored in nonvolatile memory 22 and write-once storage medium 4 hasresidual capacity, transcription of the image data is asked (steps S91through S97). Like this, when the “memory priority process” is set,residual capacity of nonvolatile memory 22 is configured so as to besecured as much as possible using selection of the reproduction mode.When the “medium priority process” is set, in the event thatoverwritable storage medium 3 has residual capacity by deletion of theimage data etc, overwritable storage medium 3 is configured so as to becapable of retrieving as many image data as possible externally bytranscribing image data of nonvolatile memory 22.

Processing from step S144 to step S147 is just the same as in steps fromS33 to S36, so an explanation is omitted. A detail about reproductionprocessing in step S144 will be described hereinafter.

(Reproduction Processing: FIG. 14)

The reproduction processing in step S144 of the flow chart of FIG. 13will be described hereinafter using a flow chart of FIG. 14. FIG. 14 isthe flow chart showing a processing procedure of the reproductionprocessing to be executed in control/processor 23. This processing willstart from step S151 when transcription processing is ended in step S143of FIG. 13 and the flow proceeds to step S141.

In step S152, it is to reproduce an image. When instruction etc does notcome from operation unit 24, a latest image data taken recently isreproduced on LCD display panel 6. In step S153, it is checked whetherthe image data in reproduction is image data stored in nonvolatilememory 22. When the image data is the image data stored in nonvolatilememory 22, the flow proceeds to step S154. In step S154, it is judged ifthe storage medium inside card slot 2 has residual capacity. When themedium has capacity, the flow proceeds to step S155. In step S155, it ischecked if the “memory priority process” is set. When the “memorypriority process” is set, the flow proceeds to step S156. When the“memory priority process” is set, card slot 2 has write-once storagemedium inserted therein. In step S156, it is to display a message askingfor transcription on LCD display panel 6. In step S157, it is checked ifoperation unit 24 is operated within a given period of time after themessage asking for transcription is displayed on LCD display panel 6.When operation unit is operated within the given period of time, theflow proceeds to step S158 and it is judge if the operation is fortranscription. When the transcription is operated, the flow proceeds tostep S159.

In step S159, it is to implement transcription of the image data storedin nonvolatile memory 22 to write-once storage medium 4. In step S160,it is to process the same auto protect and display of image data withrespect to write-once storage medium 4 as in steps S24 and S25 of FIG.3. In step S161, it is to delete the image data that is stored innonvolatile memory 22 and of which transcription to write-once storagemedium 4 is complete and nonvolatile memory 22 gets an increase inresidual capacity. Then, the flow proceeds to step S162. On the otherhand, when it is judged in step S158 that the operation is not fortranscription, the operation by the operation unit 24 is judged to bethe delete operation and then the flow proceeds to step S161. In thiscase, in step S161, the image data stored in nonvolatile memory 22 isdeleted without transcription to write-once storage medium 4 andnonvolatile memory 22 gets an increase in residual capacity. Then theflow proceeds to step S162.

When it is judged in step 157 that operation unit 24 is not operatedwithin the given period of time after the message asking fortranscription is displayed on LCD display panel 6, the flow proceeds tostep S162 assuming that processing on the image being reproduced on LCDdisplay panel 6 is put on hold. At this moment, processing in steps fromS158 to S161 is skipped, so the image to be transcribed remains stillstored in nonvolatile memory 22.

When it is judged in step S153 that a reproduction image is not theimage stored in nonvolatile memory 22, the flow proceeds to step S162.And when it is judged in step S154 that the storage medium inside cardslot 2 has no residual capacity and in step S155 that the “memorypriority process” is not set, the flow proceeds to step S162. Namely, inthese cases, there is no need to ask for transcription of the imagestored in nonvolatile memory 22 to the storage medium.

In step S162, it is checked if an image advancing operation is performedvia operation unit 24 within a given period of time after the image isreproduced in step S152. When the image advancing operation isperformed, the flow returns to step S152, wherein a next image, that is,an image taken right before an image right now being reproduced on LCDdisplay panel 6 will be reproduced. Like this, when the image advancingoperation is performed within the given period of time after the imageis reproduced, processing from step S152 to step S162 is repeated.

Contrary, when it is judged in step S162 that the image advancingoperation is not performed within the given period of time afterreproduction of the image, the flow proceeds to step S163 to end thisprocessing and then proceeds to step S145 of FIG. 3. When it is judgedin step S145 of FIG. 13 that a reproduction end operation is notperformed, reproduction processing described in FIG. 14 will start fromstep S151 once again. In this case, in step S152, reproduction of thesame image now being displayed on LCD display panel 6 is continued. Withsuch processing, when reproducing the image data stored in nonvolatilememory 22 in the “memory priority process”, processing to ask fortranscription is performed as long as write-once storage medium 4 insidecard slot 2 has residual capacity.

(Processing to Interrupt Reproduction Menu: FIG. 15)

Next, work in a case where a reproduction menu is selected withprocessing of the interrupt reproduction menu enabled in step S146 ofthe flow chart in FIG. 13 will be described hereinafter using a flowchart of FIG. 15. FIG. 15 is the flow chart showing a processingprocedure of the interrupt reproduction menu to be executed incontrol/processor 23. A reproduction menu is a menu for a variety ofoperations available in a reproduction mode and an operation item suchas a thumbnail display, an enlarged display, a bulk delete of an image,an individual delete of an image, a protect image and a release protectimage is displayed on LCD display panel 6 as list of operationsavailable in the menu. One of operations in the menu is selectable viaoperation unit 24. This processing will start from step S171 byselecting the reproduction menu via operation unit 24.

In step S173, it is checked if an individual delete menu is selected byan operation for operation unit 24 and when the individual delete menuis selected, a menu screen is advanced to a detailed menu tree of theindividual delete and proceeds to step S174. In step S174, it is checkedif image data for the individual delete is stored in write-once storagemedium 4. When it is judged in step S174 that the image data is storedin write-once storage medium 4, the flow proceeds to step S175 toprocess a change to a display menu item used for write-once storagemedium 4.

In step S175, it is to process a non-display of a delete menu.

Specifically, an operation item to delete an image is excluded from thedetailed menu of the individual delete and is so configured as not to bedisplayed on LCD display panel 6. In step S176, it is to process aspecial delete menu display. Specifically, the special delete is addedto the menu as the operation item and is so configured as to bedisplayed on LCD display panel 6. In step S177, it is to processanon-display of the protect menu. Specifically, operation items like aprotect of an image and a release protect of an image are excluded fromthe menu and are so configured as not to be displayed on LCD displaypanel 6. With processing in step S43 to step S45, the operation itemsexcluded from the detailed menu of the individual delete become notselectable.

On the other hand, when it is judged in step S174 that the image data tobe deleted individually is not stored in write-once storage medium 4,the flow proceeds to step S178 assuming that image data stored innonvolatile memory 22 or overwritable storage medium 3 is the image datafor the individual delete. In step S178, a delete instruction menu isdisplayed on LCD display panel 6 as the detailed menu of the individualdelete. Further, in step S179, a protect menu of an image data isdisplayed on LCD display panel 6. In this way, the operation item of thedetailed menu of the individual delete is changed every each image to bedeleted and the post-changed operation item is displayed on LCD displaypanel 6.

In step S180, it is to implement the operation item selected viaoperation unit 24 from the detailed menu of the individual deletedisplayed on LCD display panel 6. Every time processing of the selectedoperation item is complete, the flow proceeds to step S181. When it isjudged in step S173 that the individual delete menu is not selected fromthe reproduction menu, the flow proceeds to step S180 and execution of aselected another menu is processed.

In step S181, it is checked if an operation to end a menu is executedvia operation unit 24 and when the operation to end the menu isexecuted, the flow proceeds to step S182. In step S182, a menu displaydisplayed on LCD display panel 6 is formatted and display contents etcof the individual delete menu changed in steps S174 to S179 return to apre-changed state. Then, in step S183, the flow gets back to processingto interrupt reproduction of FIG. 13.

When it is judged in step S181 that the operation to end the menu is notexecuted, the flow gets back to step S172, wherein processing of stepsS172 to S181 is repeated until the operation to end the menu isexecuted.

(Processing of Off-interrupt: FIG. 16)

Next, work in a case where a power of digital camera 21 is turned offwith processing of the interrupt power-off enabled in step S73 of theflow chart in FIG. 8 will be described hereinafter using a flow chart ofFIG. 16. FIG. 16 is a flow chart showing a processing procedure ofpower-off interrupt processing to be executed in control/processor 23.This processing will start from step S191 by turning off the power ofdigital camera 21 via operation unit 24.

In step S192, it is to process image data transcription detailed in theflow chart of FIG. 10. According to this processing, when the image datais stored in nonvolatile memory 22, transcription of the image data tothe storage medium inside card slot 2 is facilitated and when thestorage medium gets full with transcribed image data, a quickreplacement of the storage medium is realized. By implementingtranscription processing prior to the power-off of digital camera 21,the storage medium can be updated before digital camera 21 is turned onto take a picture next time.

In step S193, it is to check if there is image data in nonvolatilememory 22 even after transcription processing is implemented in stepS192. When there is the image data in nonvolatile memory 22, the flowproceeds to step S194.

In step S194, LCD display panel 6 displays a warning message that thereis the image data in nonvolatile memory 22. Especially, when a pictureis taken in the “memory priority process” setting, the display of thiswarning message prompts a user to update write-once storage medium 4 andtranscribe image data. Namely, a user is prompted to update write-oncestorage medium 4 and transcribe image data very soon in preparation foran upcoming shooting operation by turning digital camera 21 on. Whenthere is not the image data in nonvolatile memory 22 in step S193,processing in step S194 is not performed.

In step S195, it is checked if there is residual capacity in the storagemedium inside card slot 2 and when there is not residual capacity in thestorage medium, the flow proceeds to step S196, wherein it is checked ifthe storage medium inserted into card slot 2 is write-once storagemedium 4. When the storage medium is inserted into card slot 2, the flowproceeds to step S197, wherein a message prompting a user to update thestorage medium is displayed on LCD display panel 6. When it is judged instep S195 that there is residual capacity in the storage medium or instep S196 that overwritable storage medium 3 is inserted into card slot2, processing in step S197 is not performed.

It step S198, it is to check if at least either of processing in stepS194 and/or in step S197 are/is performed. Namely, it is checked if LCDdisplay panel 6 displays the warning message about a presence of animage in memory and/or the medium replacement prompt. When LCD displaypanel 6 displays the warning message about a presence of an image inmemory and/or the medium replacement prompt, the flow proceeds to stepS199. In step S199, it is to check if a given period of time has elapsedsince LCD display panel 6 starts displaying the warning message about apresence of an image in memory and/or the medium replacement prompt.

When the given period of time has elapsed since the display starts, theflow proceeds to step S200 to turn digital camera 21 off. Then, thisprocessing is ended in step S201. When it is judged in step S199 thatthe given period of time does not elapse, the display on LCD displaypanel 6 is kept on until the given period of time will elapse. A usercan update write-once storage medium 4 or delete the image data storedin overwritable storage medium 3 prior to the power-off digital camera21. Accordingly, it becomes possible to transcribe the image data leftin nonvolatile memory 22 to the storage medium.

When it is judged in step S198 that LCD display panel 6 does not displayany of the warning messages about the presence of image data in memoryor the medium replacement prompt, the flow proceeds to step S200 topower digital camera 21 off. As described above, the power-off operationvia operation unit 24 lets the image data in nonvolatile memory 22 betranscribed to the storage medium before digital camera 21 is actuallyturned off. When nonvolatile memory 22 has no image data aftertranscription processing is performed and write-once storage medium 4 isnot full, digital camera 21 is switched off immediately after thetranscription processing is performed. When the “medium priorityprocess” is set, the image data in nonvolatile memory 22 isautomatically transcribed to the storage medium, so the transcriptionprocessing in step S192 is not substantially performed. Thus, even ifthe transcription processing of step S192 is performed, a time lag froma power-off instruction of operation unit 24 to an actual switch-offoperation of digital camera 21 is almost next to nothing. Meanwhile,when the “memory priority process” is set, information about the imagedata and the storage medium is provided to a user by the displays of thetranscription processing of step S192 and the warning etc on the “memorypriority process”. Accordingly, the quick transcription of the imagedata in nonvolatile memory 22 is prompted prior to the power-off ofdigital camera 21, which results in enhancing an operation ability at atime of switching the camera on and storing a taken image.

(Bulk Transcription Processing Mode: FIG. 17)

Next, work in a case where a bulk transcription processing mode is setin digital camera 21 in accordance with the second embodiment will bedescribed hereinafter using a flow chart of FIG. 17. FIG. 17 is the flowchart showing a processing procedure of the bulk transcriptionprocessing mode setting to be executed in control/processor 23.

When the bulk transcription processing mode is set, a taken image datais temporally stored in nonvolatile memory 22 only and then, all storedcontents in nonvolatile memory 22, that is, management information aboutthe image data like the image data and FAT (file Allocation Table) datais transcribed to write-once storage medium 4 in an integral way. Thisbulk transcription processing mode becomes settable only when write-oncestorage medium 4 is inserted into card slot 2. For example, the bulktranscription processing mode can be set via operation unit 24. The bulktranscription processing mode shown in FIG. 17 corresponds to theprocessing of step S69 to step S71 shown in FIG. 8. The processing ofFIG. 17 will start from step S211 when digital camera 21 set with thebulk transcription processing mode is switched on and then theprocessing as shown in FIG. 8 proceeds to step S69.

In step S212, a “memory storage process” is so set as to let nonvolatilememory 22 have a priority to store image data processed bycontrol/processor 23. The “memory storage process” is different from a“memory priority process” and when residual capacity of nonvolatilememory 22 gets empty, the storage medium does not store image data evenif the medium has residual capacity. That is, at a time when residualcapacity of nonvolatile memory 22 gets empty, it is judged that there isno residual capacity in digital camera 21 as a whole.

In step S213, it is to make an interrupt transcription of individualimage data disabled, but in step S214, it is to make the bulk interrupttranscription enabled. An actual transcription work is not performedhere. Processing after step S215 and on shows a processing procedure ofa residual capacity display in the bulk transcription processing modeand corresponds to the processing of step S71 in FIG. 8.

In step S215, it is judged if usable residual capacity of nonvolatilememory 22 is larger than that of write-once storage medium 4 bycomparison with write-once storage medium 4 inserted into card slot 2.Here, capacity of nonvolatile memory 22 or a storage medium usable tostore image data is defined here as usable capacity. When it is judgedin step S215 that usable residual capacity of nonvolatile memory 22 islarger than that of write-once storage medium 4, the flow proceeds tostep S216.

In step S216, it is checked if an effective capacity limit mode is set.The effective capacity limit mode is a mode that limits capacity ofnonvolatile memory 22 to store image data in. This mode is to be settogether with the bulk transcription processing mode setting. When it isjudged in step S216 that the effective capacity limit mode is set, theflow proceeds to step S217, wherein effective capacity of nonvolatilememory 22, namely, capacity used for actually storing image data in isset to capacity equal to usable capacity of write-once storage medium 4.That is, if image data is stored in nonvolatile memory 22 more thanusable capacity of write-once storage medium 4, the image data stored innonvolatile memory 22 cannot be transcribed to write-once storage medium4 all at once, so the effective capacity of nonvolatile memory 22 islimited.

Generally, capacity of nonvolatile memory 22 is small in comparison witha storage medium inserted into card slot 2. As a case where usablecapacity of write-once storage medium 4 is smaller than that ofnonvolatile memory 22, there are cased where capacity of write-oncestorage medium 4 itself is relatively small and a partially usedwrite-once storage medium 4 is utilized and so on. Setting to limiteffective capacity enables all image data stored in nonvolatile memory22 to be transcribed to a single piece of write-once storage medium 4all at once.

When it is judged in step S215 that usable residual capacity ofwrite-once storage medium 4 is equal to or larger than that ofnonvolatile memory, the flow proceeds to step S218 and the usablecapacity of nonvolatile memory 22 is set as the effective capacity ofnonvolatile memory 22 intact. That is, image data exceeding the usablecapacity of write-once storage medium 4 is allowed to be stored innonvolatile memory 22. When it is permissible to split all data innonvolatile memory 22 and transcribe all the split data to a pluralityof write-once storage medium 4, all the image data is stored byutilizing all usable capacity in nonvolatile memory 22, not setting theeffective capacity limit mode.

In step S219, it is judged if nonvolatile memory 22 has effectiveresidual capacity capable of storing image data based upon the effectivecapacity of nonvolatile memory 22 set in step S217 or Step S218. When itis judge in step S219 that nonvolatile memory 22 has effective residualcapacity, the flow proceeds to step S220. In step S220, the effectiveresidual capacity of nonvolatile memory 22 is displayed on LCD displaypanel 6. In step S221, it is to make the interrupt image taking enabled.In the step S222, this processing is ended and then the flow proceeds tostep S72 of FIG. 8.

When it is judged in step S219 that nonvolatile memory 22 does not haveeffective residual capacity, the flow proceeds to step S223. In stepS223, LCD display panel 6 displays a message prompting a user totranscribe data stored in nonvolatile memory 22 all at once and the flowproceeds to step S222, wherein this processing is ended.

(Processing to Interrupt Image Taking: FIG. 18)

Work in a case where an image taking operation is performed withprocessing of the interrupt image taking enabled in step S221 of theflow chart in FIG. 17 will be described hereinafter using a flow chartof FIG. 18. FIG. 18 is the flowchart showing a processing procedure ofprocessing to interrupt image taking to be executed in control/processor23. This processing will start from step S231 by pressing a shutterrelease button of operation unit 24.

In step S232, it is to process an image. Control/processor 23 reads animage via imaging device 8, A/D converter 9 and Raw data buffer 11 andperforms processing like an image interpolation and compression etc. Instep S233, it is to store the image data image-processed like the imageinterpolation and compression in step S232 in nonvolatile memory 22.

In step S234, it is checked if there is the effective residue capacityin nonvolatile memory 22 having stored the image data in step S232. Whenthere is not the effective residue capacity in nonvolatile memory 22,the flow proceeds to step S235, wherein the interrupt image taking ischanged to disabled. And in step S236, LCD display panel 6 displays amessage asking for all-at-once transcription and in step S237, the flowgets back to the main flow of FIG. 8 and stands by until operation unit24 is operated.

When it is judged in step S234 that there is the effective residuecapacity in nonvolatile memory 22, the flow proceeds to step S238. Instep S238, LCD display panel 6 displays the effective residue capacityin nonvolatile memory 22 and the flow proceeds to step S237.

(Processing to Interrupt All-at-once Transcription: FIG. 19)

Work in a case where an all-at-once transcription operation is performedwith an all-at-once transcription processing mode set will be describedhereinafter using a flow chart of FIG. 19. FIG. 19 is the flow chartshowing a processing procedure of the all-at-once transcriptionprocessing to be executed in control/processor 23. This processing willstart from step S241 when the operation for all-at-once transcription isperformed via control/processor 23.

In step S242, it is checked if the effective capacity limit mode is setand when the effective capacity limit mode is not set, the flow proceedsto step S243. In step S243, it is judged if a total data amount of anot-yet-transcribed to write-once storage medium 4 image stored innonvolatile memory 22 is larger than that of the usable capacity ofwrite-once storage medium 4. It should be noted that the total dataamount of the not-yet-transcribed image stored in nonvolatile memory 22includes image data and management information of the image data. Whenit is judged in step S243 that the total data amount of thenot-yet-transcribed image is larger than that of the usable capacity ofwrite-once storage medium 4, the flow proceeds to step S244.

In step S244, it is to process a data split. In step S244, the totaldata amount in nonvolatile memory 22 is split into a portioncorresponding to usable capacity of write-once storage medium 4 nowinserted into card slot 2 and other portion equivalent to the restthereof. Further, management information is created to unit the splitimage data by reading out the data after the image data is stored inwrite-once storage medium 4. Here, there is a possibility that, of thesplit data, the other portion left in nonvolatile memory 22 is furthersplit depending upon capacity of a next storage medium to be insertedinto card slot 2.

In step S245, the data amount split in step S244 and transcribable towrite-once storage medium 4 is transcribed to write-once storage medium4. When it is judged in step S242 that the effective capacity limit modeis not set, processing in steps S243 and S244 are not performed and theflow proceeds to step S245. That is, when the effective capacity limitmode is set, the total data amount in nonvolatile memory 22 is limitedwithin the usable capacity of write-once storage medium 4 now insertedinto card slot 2, so the transcription processing is performed withoutsplitting data. In step S246, after the transcription processing isperformed in step S245, it is judged if there is a not-yet-transcribedimage in nonvolatile memory 22. When there is not in nonvolatile memory22, the flow proceeds to step S247. In step S247, a message asking ifduplicate transcription is performed is displayed on LCD display panel6. Duplicate transcription is a transcription method in which one pieceof data stored in nonvolatile memory 22 is transcribed to plural storagemedia and a duplicate of the storage medium to which the same data istranscribed is created. With the duplicate transcription, it becomespossible to easily give the same data of nonvolatile memory 22 pluralparticipants in an event just like printed hard copies. LCD displaypanel 6 displays a message, for example, “Transcription is complete.Transcribe the same contents to other memory card?”.

In step S248, it is checked if an operation to perform duplicatetranscription via operation unit 24 is executed within a given period oftime from a start of the duplicate transcription display in step S247.When the operation is not executed within the given period of time, theflow proceeds to step S249 judging that the duplicate transcription isnot instructed. In step S249, when the duplicate transcription is notperformed, as the data in nonvolatile memory 22 is not neededthereafter, stored contents in nonvolatile memory 22 is deleted.

In the meanwhile, when it is judged in step S246 that nonvolatile memory22 has the not-yet-transcribed image, the flow proceeds to step S251 tofurther transcribe the data equivalent to the rest of the split data. Instep S251, LCD display panel 6 displays a message prompting a user toupdate a storage medium. In step S252, it is checked if write-oncestorage medium 4 inserted into card slot 2 is updated and when it isjudged that a fresh storage medium is inserted into card slot 2, theflow gets back to step S243. Then, processing of step S243 andsubsequent steps will be so performed as to transcribe data left innonvolatile memory 22 to the fresh storage medium inserted into cardslot. The fresh storage medium to be inserted in step S252 may be notonly write-once storage medium 4 but also overwritable storage medium 3to process the all-at-once transcription.

In step S252, when it is judged that the medium replacement is notdetected, the flow proceeds to step S253, wherein it is to check if thegiven period of time has elapsed from the medium replacement display.When it is judged in step S253 that the given period of time has notelapsed, the flow gets back to step S252 wherein it is to confirmreplacement of the storage medium until the given period of timeelapses. When it is judged in step S253 that the given period of timehas elapsed with no storage medium updated, the flow proceeds to stepS254, wherein processing to halt transcription is performed. Then, theflow proceeds to step S250 and stands by, getting back to the flow chartof FIG. 8. In transcription halt processing in step S254, a record oftranscription processing in halfway is saved, for example, as managementinformation about image data. With this saving, when the all-at-oncetranscription is performed once again with an updated medium,all-at-once transcription processing can be restarted fromnot-yet-transcribed data let in nonvolatile memory 22.

In step S248, when it is judged that the duplicate transcriptionoperation is performed within the given period of time in response tothe duplicate transcription display in step S247, the flow proceeds tostep S251. At this moment, the management information is so changed asto cancel management information indicating that the image data storedin nonvolatile memory 22 was already transcribed and indicate that allthe image data therein are not yet transcribed. In processing in stepS251 and on, the all-at-once transcription processing of image data ofnonvolatile memory 22 will be performed in the same way whennot-yet-transcribed image is left in nonvolatile memory 22.

As long as there is no-yet-transcribed image left in nonvolatile memory22 in step S246 and the storage medium is updated in step S252, theall-at-once transcription processing as described above is repeated. Andin step S248, when the duplicate transcription operation is performedwithin the given period of time in response to the duplicatetranscription display, image data of nonvolatile memory 22 is notdeleted and a desired number of duplicates of the image data can becreated by replacing a storage medium.

Third Embodiment

A digital camera in accordance with a third embodiment of this inventionwill be described using accompanying diagrams.

FIG. 20 is a block diagram showing a configuration of the digital camerasystem in accordance with third embodiment of this invention. In FIG.20, the same numeral references are given to the same configuring unitand the like as the first embodiment of FIG. 1 and its explanation isomitted. Things different from the first embodiment will be mainlydescribed hereinafter. As shown in FIG. 20, digital camera 31 inaccordance with the third embodiment is provided with buffer memory 311instead of Raw data buffer 11. Buffer memory 31 temporally stores imagedata taken by imaging device 8 and variously processed bycontrol/processor 301.

Digital camera 31 in accordance with the third embodiment prevents auser from storing unwanted image data in write-once storage medium 4 asmuch as possible when write-once storage medium 4 is inserted into cardslot 2, by controlling so as to temporally store taken image data inbuffer memory 311. And by utilizing a nonvolatile buffer memory used ina continuous shooting and for image processing as a memory fortemporally storing image data, a cost can be held down.

Now, work of digital camera 31 in accordance with the third embodimentwill be described hereinafter.

First, work at a time of a power-on of digital camera 31 will beexplained. In the event that write-once storage medium 4 is insertedinto card slot 2 when a power is turned on, digital camera 31 inaccordance with the third embodiment warns that image data stored in astorage medium cannot be overwritten. When digital camera 31 is turnedon, besides controls to be explained herein, several controls like, forexample, formatting and checking etc are performed, but theseexplanations are omitted.

FIG. 21 is the flow chart showing control processing bycontrol/processor 301 at a time of the power-on in accordance with thethird embodiment. This processing will start when operation unit 7switches digital camera 31 on.

In step S1001, it is to obtain information about a storage mediuminserted into card slot 2, namely, a memory card. Here, it is to detectinformation about property of a storage medium including whether thememory card is a write-once storage medium or a overwritable storagemedium. In step S1002, it is judged whether a now inserted memory cardis the same memory card as detected at a previous time, namely, insertedpreviously. This judgment is made by comparing property informationabout the previously detected memory card with property informationabout the detected memory card this time. In step S1002, when it isjudged that a different memory card is inserted, the flow proceeds tostep S1003. In step S1003, based upon the property information about thememory card detected in step S1001, it is judged that the now insertedmemory card is write-once storage medium 4. When write-once storagemedium 4 is inserted, the flow proceeds to step S1004. In step S1004, itis to obtain status information about LCD display panel 6. Specifically,it is to detect whether a display is performed on LCD display panel 6,that is, LCD display panel 6 is lit up. In step S1005, it is judged ifLCD display panel 6 is lit up. When LCD display panel 6 is lit up, theflow proceeds to step S1007 and when LCD display panel 6 is not lit up,the flow proceeds to step S1006, wherein LCD display panel 6 is driven.Then, the flow proceeds to step S1007. In step S1007, LCD display panel6 displays that write-once storage medium 4 unable to overwrite imagedata is inserted into card slot 2. FIG. 22 shows a display example onLCD display panel 6. Only a warning message is displayed on the displayexample screen of FIG. 22, but this message may be displayed togetherwith other information like a remaining number of frames of a memorycard, residual capacity of a battery power in use and so.

Accordingly, this processing is ended.

When it is judged in step S1002 that the memory card now in use is thesame as inserted at the previous time or in step S1003 that the insertedmemory card is not write-once storage medium 4, this processing isended.

Accordingly, when write-once storage medium 4 is in use, it isdisplayed, when digital camera 31 is switched on, that image data cannotbe overwritten. Thus, a user can be notified that before actuallystoring image data in write-once storage medium 4, overwriting isunable. And when the same memory card as detected at the previous timeis used, the warning message does not bring up, so a user frequentlypowering digital camera 31 on/off does not feel annoyed.

(Control at a Time of a Mode Change: FIG. 22)

Generally, a digital camera is provided with a picture taking mode torecord taken image data, a reproduction mode to reproduce the takenimage data and a mode change function to switch the picture taking modeand the reproduction mode. For example, an operation via operation unit7 can change the mode. In the reproduction mode, as image data is notrecorded in write-once storage medium 4, it is not important to warn auser using only the reproduction mode that the memory card now in use isnot overwritable. Namely, when the reproduction mode is selected when apower is on, the warning that the memory card is not overwritable maynot be needed. But, when the picture taking mode is selected or the modeof digital camera 31 is changed over from the reproduction mode to thepicture taking mode when the power of digital camera 31 is on, it ispreferable to warn that that overwriting of image data is not possiblein the inserted write-once storage medium 4.

Work of digital camera 31 at a time of the mode change will be describedhereinafter using FIG. 23. FIG. 23 is the flow chart showing aprocessing procedure of control processing at the time of the modechange to be executed in control/processor 301. Execution of processingshown in FIG. 23 does not need execution of the control processing atthe time of the power-on shown In FIG. 21. This processing will startwhen the mode of digital camera 31 is changed via operation unit 7.

In step s1101, it is to detect a mode set to digital camera 31. In stepS1102, it is to judge whether the detected mode in step S1001 is thepicture taking mode. When the picture taking mode is set, the flowproceeds to step S1103.

In step S1103, it is to obtain information about the propertyinformation of the memory card inserted into slot 2 and the like. Instep S1104, it is to judge, based upon information about the memory carddetected in step S1003, if the memory card now in use is the same one asdetected at the previous time. When the memory card now in use isdifferent from the previous card, the flow proceeds to step S1105,wherein it is to judge, based upon the information detected in stepS1103, whether the memory card now in use is write-once storage medium4. If write-once storage medium 4 is inserted, the flow proceeds to stepS1106.

In step S1106, it is to obtain status information about whether LCDdisplay panel 6 displays and in step S1107, it is to judge, based uponthe information detected in step S1106, whether LCD display panel 6 islit up. When LCD display panel 6 is lit up, the flow proceeds to stepS1109. When LCD display panel 6 is not lit up, the flow proceeds to stepS1108, wherein LCD display panel 6 is driven. Then, the flow proceeds tostep S1109.

In step S1109, as shown in FIG. 22, a message that image data cannot beoverwritten in write-once storage medium 4 is displayed on LCD displaypanel 6.

When it is judged in step S1102 that the picture taking mode is not set,namely, the reproduction mode is set, this processing is ended withoutwarning that overwriting of image data is impossible in the memory card.When it is judged in step S1104 that the same memory card is inserted orthe inserted memory card is not write-once storage medium 4, thisprocessing is ended too without displaying the warning. When the picturetaking mode is set at the time of the power-on of digital camera 31,processing will start from step S1101 judging that the mode is changedto the picture taking mode.

(Record Control: FIG. 24)

A record control of image data to be executed in digital camera 31 whena picture is shot will be described hereinafter.

Generally, a digital camera with display device such as a LCD monitoretc is provided with a function that displays a photographed image,which is confirmed by a user, and deletes it if it is an undesiredimage. And, there is a digital camera that has a function thatreproduces the photographed image for a certain period of time on amonitor right after taking the picture and deletes the photographedimage data now in reproduction from a memory card when a deleteoperation is executed within a given period of time. With use of suchthe image data delete function, it becomes easy that a pictured imagecan be viewed on a monitor soon after shot and, if an unsatisfactoryimage is found, the image is deleted and a picture is re-shot.

But, in the even that write-once storage medium 4 is inserted intodigital camera 31, if image data is recorded in write-once storagemedium 4 onetime, the image data cannot be overwritten. Therefore, evenif the image data is deleted, once written, namely, used memory capacitycannot be restored.

Thus, in the third embodiment, when write-once storage medium 4 isinserted, image data is temporally stored in buffer memory 311, notrecorded in write-once storage medium 4 within a given period of timeafter shot. Then, after the given period of time has elapsed, the imagedata is copied from buffer memory 311 to write-once storage medium 4.Accordingly, even when write-once storage medium 4 is inserted, theimage data can be deleted easily soon after shot without reducingcapacity of the storage medium as in the case where overwritable storagemedium 3 is in use.

FIG. 24 is the flow chart showing a processing procedure of a recordcontrol to be executed in control/processor 301. This processing willstart by a shooting operation, namely, depressing a shutter releasebutton of operation unit 7.

In step S1201, it is to detect information about a memory card in useand judge if the inserted memory is write-once storage medium 4 and ifwrite-once storage medium 4 is inserted, the flow proceeds to stepS1202. In step S1202, it is to create image data in Exif (ExchangeableImage File Format) by performing image processing etc and then store thecreated image data in a temporal storage area of buffer memory 311. TheExif image data includes information about a shooting date and ashooting situation along with image information.

In step S1203, LCD display panel 6 displays a reproduction image of ataken image and a message asking if the reproduction image is deleted.FIG. 26 shows a display screen example on LCD display panel 6. In stepS1204, it is to judge whether a given period of time has elapsed sincethe reproduction image is displayed on LCD display panel 6 and if thegiven period of time has not elapsed since the reproduction image isdisplayed, the flow proceeds to step S1205.

In step S1205, it is to detect whether a delete operation to delete thereproduction image is executed via operation unit 7. If the deleteoperation is executed, the flow proceeds to step S1206, wherein thetaken image data temporally stored in buffer memory 311 is deleted. Whenthe delete operation via operation unit 7 is not detected in step S1205,the flow gets back to step S1203, wherein LCD display panel 6 displaysthe reproduction image and the message inquiring into the deletion ofthe reproduction image.

In step S1204, when it is judged that the given period of time haselapsed since the reproduction image is displayed, the flow proceeds tostep S1207, wherein the taken image data temporally stored in buffermemory 311 is recorded in write-once storage medium 4.

In step S1201, when it is judged that write-once storage medium 4 is notinserted, namely, overwritable storage medium 3 is inserted, the flowproceeds to step S1208. In step S1208, image data in Exif is created andthe created image data is recorded in overwritable storage medium 3, notin buffer memory 311. In step S1209, LCD display panel 6 displays thereproduction image and the message inquiring into the deletion of thereproduction image as shown in FIG. 26.

In step S1210, it is judged whether the given period of time has elapsedsince the reproduction image is displayed on LCD display panel 6 and ifthe given period of time has elapsed, this processing is ended. When thegiven period of time does not elapse, the flow proceeds to step S1211.

In step 1211, it is to judge whether the delete operation to delete thereproduction image is executed via operation unit 7 and if the deleteoperation to delete the reproduction image is executed, the flowproceeds to step S1212 and the taken image data recorded in overwritablestorage medium 3 is deleted. But, if it is judged in step S1211 that thedelete operation via operation unit 7 is not executed, the flow getsback to step S1209 and LCD display panel 6 displays the reproductionimage and the message inquiring into the deletion.

Like the foregoing, in the event that write-once storage medium 4 isinserted, an image can be deleted without consuming memory capacitywastefully if a user wants to re-shoot.

In the record control shown in FIG. 24, a given period of time for whicha taken image is displayed on LCD display panel 6 is set to, forexample, a few seconds (4˜5 sec). But this given period of time is notlimited to this example and the image may stay on for a few minutes orhours.

In the record control as described in FIG. 24, the image data istemporally stored in buffer memory 311 until the given period of timehas elapsed and then the image data will be automatically recorded inwrite-once storage medium 4 after the given period of time has elapsed.This control is not limited to this example and in response to a givenoperation of digital camera 31, the image data of buffer memory 311 maybe recorded in write-once storage medium 4. For example, in response toa next shooting operation, image data may be recorded in write-oncestorage medium 4 and in response to a half depressing of the shutterrelease button, the image data may be so configured as to be recorded inwrite-once storage medium 4.

(Record Control Responding to Shooting Operation: FIG. 25)

Responding to a shooting operation, work in a case where the image dataof buffer memory 311 is recorded in write-once storage medium 4 will bespecifically described hereinafter.

FIG. 25 is the flow chart showing a processing procedure of a recordcontrol of image data in response to a shooting operation to be executedin control/processor 301. This processing will start when the shutterrelease button of operation unit 7 is depressed to start shooting.

In step S1301, it is to detect information about an inserted memory cardand judge whether write-once storage medium 4 is inserted and whenwrite-once storage medium 4 is inserted, the flow proceeds to stepS1302. In step S1302, image processing etc is performed on a taken imageto create image data in Exif and the created Exif image data is storedin a temporal storage area of buffer memory 311.

In step S1303, it is to judge whether a next shooting operation isperformed, that is, the shutter release button of operation unit 7 isdepressed. When a new shooting operation is performed, the flow proceedsto step S1305. In step S1305, the image data temporally stored in buffermemory 311 is recorded in write-once storage medium 4. In step S1306,the image data stored in the temporal buffer memory 311, which wasalready recorded in write-once storage medium 4, is deleted.

In step S1305, the image data to be recorded in write-once storagemedium 4 is an image taken when this processing starts, not image datataken by a shooting operation in step S1303. The image taken in stepS1303 is image-processed and as different image data, theimage-processed image is stored in the temporal storage area.

In step S1303, when the next shooting operation is not detected, theflow proceeds to step S1304. In step S1304, it is to judge if a deleteoperation to delete the image data temporally stored in buffer memory311 is performed. When the delete operation is not performed, the flowgets back to step S1303, wherein it is to judge again if a new shootingoperation is performed. When the delete operation is performed, the flowproceeds to step S1306. In step S1306, the image data taken this timeand temporally stored in buffer memory 311 is deleted.

In step S1301, when it is judged that write-once storage medium 4 is notinserted and when overwritable storage medium 3 is inserted, the flowproceeds to step S1307. In step S1307, image processing etc is performedon the taken image and image data in Exif is created and then, thecreated Exif image data in is recorded in overwritable storage medium 3,not in buffer memory 311.

It is preferable that the record control shown in FIG. 25 is employedinto a digital camera with, for example, a function to reproduce animage taken just before with ease of simplicity, what is called a quickview function.

Although the record controls shown in FIGS. 24 and 25 are described, arecord control can be implemented by combining two record controls. Forexample, of a given period of time elapse from the display of thereproduction image and a next shooting operation, responding to anearlier action thereof, image data can be so controlled as to berecorded in write-once storage medium 4.

(Memory Card Capacity Detection Control: FIG. 27)

Next, work to detect memory capacity of a memory card loaded intodigital camera 31 will be described hereinafter. In the thirdembodiment, based upon detected memory capacity of the memory card, LCDdisplay panel 6 displays residual capacity of the memory card and awarning message about memory card replacement.

FIG. 27 is the flow chart showing a processing procedure of a memorycapacity detection control to be executed in control/processor 301. Thisprocessing is repeatedly executed as long as the power of digital camera31 is ON.

In step S1401, it is to detect memory capacity of a loaded memory card.In step S1402, it is to judge whether residual capacity of the memorycard is below a given capacity. Here, the given capacity of a memorycard is capacity necessary to record image data equivalent to one frame.When the capacity is below the given capacity, the flow proceeds to stepS1403.

In step S1403, it is to detect whether the loaded memory card iswrite-once storage medium 4 and if write-once storage medium 4 isinserted, the flow proceeds to step S1404, wherein LCD display panel 6displays a message prompting a user to update a memory card. FIG. 28( a)shows a display screen example of the replacement prompt. If write-oncestorage medium 4 is loaded, as image data cannot be overwritten,replacement of write-once storage medium 4 is prompted. In step S1403,when write-once storage medium 4 is not loaded, that is, a overwritablestorage medium is loaded, the flow proceeds to step S1405. In stepS1405, LCD display panel 6 displays a message asking if a memory card isupdated or unnecessary data in a memory card is deleted. FIG. 28( b)displays a display screen example.

When overwritable storage medium 3 is loaded, as new image data can berecorded by not only replacing the memory card but also deleting therecorded image data, the display screen example as shown in FIG. 28( b)is displayed thereon.

In step S1402, when it is judged that memory capacity of the memory cardis more than the given capacity, the flow proceeds to step S1406,wherein residual capacity of the memory card is displayed on LCD displaypanel 6.

Like this, when residual capacity of a memory card is getting less, anappropriate advice can be given to a user in response to the loadedmemory card.

(Image Data Simple Delete Control: FIG. 30)

Next, work at a time of deleting image data in digital camera 31 will bedescribed hereinafter. When a delete operation is performed while imagedata is reproduced on LCD display panel 6 in a reproduction mode, LCDdisplay panel 6 displays a delete menu. FIG. 29( a) displays a displayscreen example of the delete menu. As shown in FIG. 29( a), digitalcamera 31 in accordance with the third embodiment is provided with twoimage data delete methods of a simple delete and a complete delete. Asimple delete will be explained using FIG. 30. FIG. 30 is the flow chartshowing a simple delete operation of digital camera 31. The flow willstart by selecting a simple delete in a delete menu shown in FIG. 29(a).

In step S1501, it is to judge whether a loaded memory card is write-oncestorage medium 4 and if write-once storage medium 4 is inserted, theflow proceeds to step S1502. In step S1205, LCD display panel 6 displaysa message asking if image data is deleted although the image deletiondoes not get an increase in memory capacity. FIG. 29( b) shows a displayscreen example of the message. In step S1503, when it is judged whetheran operation to delete image data is executed. When the operation isexecuted, the flow proceeds to step S1504.

In step S1504, to indicate that image data to be deleted is deleted, FAT(File Allocation Tables) information is overwritten to create new FATinformation. An instruction to nullify pre-overwritten old FATinformation and record the created new FAT information is outputted towrite-once storage medium 4. The FAT information is information tomanage data recorded in a memory. Thus, by nullifying the old FATinformation and recording the new FAT information indicative of databeing deleted, it is shown therein that there is no data recorded. Thenew FAT information shows that a data area where image data to bedeleted is recorded is overwritable, but here, in addition to the FATinformation, other management information so as to make once writtenarea disabled to be overwritten is provided.

In step S1503, when it is not judged that the delete operation isperformed, the flow proceeds to step S1505. In step S1505, it is tojudge if a cancel operation is performed. When the cancel operation isperformed, this processing is ended. When the operation is notperformed, the flow proceeds to step S1502. When it is judged in stepS1501 that the loaded memory card is not write-once storage medium 4,that is, overwritable storage medium 3 is inserted, the flow proceeds tostep S1506. In step S1506, LCD display panel 6 displays a message askingif the image data is deleted. In step S1507, it is to judge if thedelete operation is executed and if the delete operation is executed,the flow proceeds to step S1508.

In step S1508, it is to output an instruction to overwritable storagemedium 3 so as to overwrite to FAT information indicating that the imagedata to be deleted was deleted. When the delete operation is notdetected, the flow proceeds to step S1509 and it is judged if a canceloperation is executed. When the cancel operation is executed, this flowis ended. When the cancel operation is not executed, the flow gets backto step S1506.

As described in the above, when the simple delete is selected, deleteprocessing of the image data can be quickly ended by overwriting FATinformation so as to indicate deletion of the image data.

(Image Data Complete Delete Control: FIG. 30)

Next, a complete delete of image data will be described hereinafter.

When the simple delete is performed as shown in FIG. 30, only FATinformation is overwritten, so the image data still exists in write-oncestorage medium 4. Thus, there is a risk that the deleted image data willbe reproduced. Then, when a user wants to delete the recorded image datacompletely, a complete delete operation to delete image data completelyis performed. For example, when reproduction of deleted image data byother person is embarrassing to a user, a complete delete is selected inthe delete menu shown in FIG. 29( a).

FIG. 31 is the flow chart showing a processing procedure of a completedelete operation to be executed in control/processor 6. This processingwill start when the complete delete operation is selected via operationunit 7 form the delete menu shown in FIG. 29( a).

In step S1601, it is judged if a memory card in use is write-oncestorage medium 4 and if write-once storage medium 4 is inserted, theflow proceeds to step S1602. In step S1602, like the simple deletecontrol shown in FIG. 30, LCD display panel 6 displays a message askingif image data is deleted although deletion of image data cannot get anincrease in memory capacity. In step S1603, it is to judge if a deleteoperation to delete image data is executed and if the delete operationis executed, the flow proceeds to step S1604.

In step S1604, FAT information is so corrected as to indicate that thereis no existed image data to be deleted and an instruction to make oldFAT information invalid is outputted to write-once storage medium 4. Atthe same time, an instruction to overwrite with given data is outputtedto write-once storage medium 4 so as to nullify an image data area to bedeleted.

In step S1603, when the delete operation is not detected, it is judgedif the cancel operation is executed and if the cancel operation isexecuted, this processing is ended. When the cancel operation is notexecuted, the flow gets back to step S1602.

In step S1601, when it is judged that a memory card in use is notwrite-once storage medium 4 and overwritable storage medium 3 isinserted, the flow proceeds to step S1606. In step S1606, LCD displaypanel 6 displays a message asking if image data is deleted. In stepS1607, it is to judge if the delete operation is executed and if thedelete operation is executed, the flow proceeds to step S1608. In stepS1608, an instruction to overwrite to FAT information indicative of theimage data to be deleted having been deleted is outputted tooverwritable storage medium 3. Also, at the same time, an instruction tooverwrite given data in an image data area to be deleted is outputted tooverwritable storage medium 3. In step S1607, when the delete operationis not detected, the flow proceeds to step S1609 and it is judged if thecancel operation is performed. When the cancel operation is performed,this processing is ended. When the cancel operation is not performed,the flow gets back to step S1606. As in the above, selection of thecomplete delete in the delete menu can make image data invalidcompletely. Here, an overall image data area is configured to beoverwritten with given data and whole image data is configured to bemade invalid, but image data can be partially overwritten. In this case,although the whole image data to be deleted cannot be made invalid, atime to overwrite the data can be shortened.

(Other Example 1 of Image Data Delete Control: FIG. 32) Next, otherexample 1 of image data delete processing in digital camera 31 will beexplained. Here, an image data delete control combining the simpledelete and the complete delete will be performed.

In a case of overwritable storage medium 3, there is possibility thatimage data itself on which the delete processing was performed byoverwriting FAT information is overwritten with other image data.Contrary to this, in a case of write-once storage medium 4, image dataitself on which the delete processing was performed by adding FATinformation is not overwritten with other image data. Thus, when deleteprocessing is performed by overwriting FAT information, the image dataremains recorded in write-once storage medium 4. As an ordinaryoperation cannot check what the deleted image data looks like, a userhesitates to hand over the storage medium to someone for fear of abuse.

Therefore, in the case where a memory card in use is write-once storagemedium 4, the delete operation to make image data itself invalid(complete delete) is performed and in the case of overwritable storagemedium 3 in use, a delete operation to overwrite FAT information only(simple delete) is performed. FIG. 32 is the flow chart showing aprocessing procedure of other sample 1 of the delete operation to beexecuted in control/processor 301. This processing will start byperforming the delete operation via operation unit 7 in a reproductionmode.

In step S1621, it is to detect if a memory card in use is write-oncestorage medium 4 and if write-once storage medium 4 is inserted, theflow proceeds to step S1622 and in step S1622, as shown in FIG. 29( b),LCD display panel 6 displays a message asking if an operation to deleteimage data is performed although deletion cannot get an increase inmemory capacity. In step S1623, it is to judge if the delete operationis performed. When the delete operation is performed, the flow proceedsto step S1624.

In step S1624, FAT information is overwritten to create new FATinformation indicative of the image data to be deleted having beendeleted by nullifying the old FAT information and an instruction torecord the new FAT information is outputted to write-once storage medium4. At the same time, an instruction to overwrite with given data so asto make an image data area to be deleted invalid is outputted towrite-once storage medium 4. In step S1623, when the delete operation isnot detected, the flow proceeds to step S1625 and it is judged if acancel operation is executed and if the cancel operation is executed,the flow is ended. If the cancel operation is not executed, the flowgets back to step S1622.

When it is judged in step S1621 that the memory card in use isoverwritable storage medium 3, not write-once storage medium 4, the flowproceeds to step S1626. In step S1621, LCD display panel 6 displays amessage asking if image data is deleted. In step S1627, it is to judgeif the delete operation is executed and if the delete operation isexecuted, the flow proceeds to step S1628. In step S1628, an instructionto overwrite to FAT information indicative of the image data to bedeleted having been deleted is outputted to overwritable storage medium3. On the other hand, when the delete operation is not detected, theflow proceeds to step S1629 and it is judged if the cancel operation isperformed. When the cancel operation is performed, this processing isended and if the cancel operation is not performed, the flow gets backto step S1626.

As described above, when the image data stored in write-once storagemedium 4 is deleted, the complete delete operation cannot reproduce theimage data completely. Thus, a user can hand over the memory card toother people with worry-free.

(Other Example 2 of Image Data Delete Control: FIG. 33)

Next, other example 2 of image data delete processing in digital camera31 will be explained. Here, an image data delete control combining thesimple delete and the complete delete will be performed. Specifically,only in a case where write-once storage medium 4 is inserted, any of thesimple delete or the complete delete is controlled so as to be selected.

FIG. 33 is the flow chart showing a processing procedure of a deletecontrol of other example 2 to be executed in control/processor 301. Thisprocessing will start when the delete operation is operated viaoperation unit 7 in a reproduction mode.

In step S1641, it is to judge if a memory card in use is write-oncestorage medium 4 and if write-once storage medium 4 is inserted, theflow proceeds to step S1642, wherein LCD display panel 6 displays thedelete menu as shown in FIG. 29( a). In step S1643, it is judged that“complete delete” is selected from the delete menu via operation unit 7.When the “complete delete” is selected, the flow proceeds to step S1644.

In step S1646, FAT information is created to indicate that there is noimage data to be deleted and an instruction to nullify old FATinformation is outputted to write-once storage medium 4. At the sametime, an instruction to overwrite an image data area with given data soas to nullify an image data area to be deleted is outputted towrite-once storage medium 4.

When the delete operation is not detected in step S1645, the flowproceeds to step S1647 and it is to judge if a cancel operation isperformed. When the cancel operation is performed, this processing isended. When the cancel operation is not performed, the flow gets back tostep S1644. In step S1643, when the “complete delete” is not selectedfrom the delete menu, that is, the “simple delete” is selected, the flowproceeds to step S1648. In step S1648, as shown in FIG. 29 (b), LCDdisplay panel 6 displays a message asking if the image data is deletedalthough deletion of the image data does cannot get an increase inmemory capacity. In step S1649, it is to judge if the delete operationis executed and if the delete operation is executed, the flow proceedsto step S1650.

In step S1650, new FAT information is created by overwriting FATinformation so as to indicate that image data to be deleted was deletedand an instruction to record the new FAT information and nullify the oldFAT information is outputted to write-once storage medium 4. On thecontrary, in step S1649, when the delete operation is not detected, theflow proceeds to step S1651 and it is to judge if a cancel operation isexecuted. If the cancel operation is executed, the flow is ended and ifa cancel operation is not executed, the flow gets back to step S1648.

In step S1641, when a memory card in use is overwritable storage medium3, not write-once storage medium 4, the flow proceeds to step S1652. Instep S1652, LCD display panel 6 displays a message asking if the imagedata is deleted. In step S1653, it is judged if a delete operation isexecuted and if the delete operation is executed, the flow proceeds tostep S1654. In step 1654, an instruction to overwrite to FAT informationindicative of the image data to be deleted having been deleted isoutputted to overwritable storage medium 3. In step S1653, when thedelete operation is not detected, the flow proceeds to step S1655 and itis to judge if a cancel operation is performed. When the canceloperation is performed, this processing is ended and when the canceloperation is not performed, the flow gets back to step S1652.

As in the above, by controlling so as to be able to select any of thecomplete delete or the simple delete only when write-once storage medium4 is inserted, a user can choose any of the complete delete or thesimple delete, for instance, when confidentiality etc is a top priority,the complete delete or when a deleting time is to be shortened, thesimple deletion.

(Image Data Delete Control in Response to Memory Capacity: FIG. 34)

As described in the foregoing, when delete processing is performed onthe image data recorded in write-once storage medium 4, it becomesnecessary to nullify the old FAT information and additionally record newFAT information. But, if there is no residual capacity in write-oncestorage medium 4 and new FAT information to be created cannot berecorded, the image data cannot be deleted. To avoid this inconvenience,it is conceivable to perform a record control so as to ensure memorycapacity in preparation for a plurality of overwrites of FATinformation. However, it is not preferable to a user that memorycapacity gets reduced for overwriting FAT information.

Therefore, image data is configured to be deleted even when there is noresidual capacity in a storage medium without preparing vacant memorycapacity for overwriting FAT information. More specifically, data isnullified by leaving FAT information intact in which image data to bedeleted is recorded and overwriting given data in a record area of theimage data to be deleted.

FIG. 34 is the flow chart showing a processing procedure of a deletecontrol in response to residual capacity of a memory card to be executedin control/processor 301. This processing will start by performing anoperation to delete image data in write-once storage medium 4 viaoperation unit 7.

In step S1701, it is to judge if residual capacity of write-once storagemedium 4 is enough to record FAT information to be newly created. Whenthe residual capacity is not enough, the flow proceeds to step S1702. Instep S1702, LCD display panel 6 displays a message warning thatinconvenience takes place as well as asking if a delete operation isexecuted. FIG. 35 shows a display screen example of the warning message.In step S1703, it is to judge if the delete operation is executed and ifthe delete operation is executed, the flow proceeds to step S1704.

In step S1704, FAT information remains intact and given data isoverwritten in image data area to be deleted, and then data isnullified. In this case, along with image data, data about its thumbnailimage and additional information is nullified too. Contrary, in stepS1703, when the delete operation is not detected, the flow proceeds tostep S1705, wherein it is to judge if a cancel operation is performed.If the cancel operation is performed, the flow is ended and if canceloperation is not performed, the flow gets back to step S1702. In stepS1701, when it is judged that there is residual capacity for recordingFAT information, the flow proceeds to step S1706. In step S1706, new FATinformation indicative of the image data to be deleted having beendeleted is created. In step S1707, the new FAT information is recordedby nullifying old FAT information.

Accordingly, the image data which is overwritten by the given data anddeleted in step S1704 still exists in accordance with FAT information,so reproduction of the deleted image data is tried in digital camera 31or other image playback apparatus. But, since there is no image dataexisted actually, the image data is never reproduced by displaying whatan image data file is broken. FAT information does not meet a presenceof actual image data and thus this mismatching causes a user someinconvenience a little bit in a file management, but image data a useris eager to delete can be deleted without fail even when residualcapacity is getting smaller.

(Format Control: FIG. 37)

A format control of a memory card in digital camera 31 will be explainedhereinafter.

FIG. 36 shows a display screen sample of a setting menu to be displayedon LCD display panel 6. The setting menu has a menu of selections suchformat, a file sorting etc and FIG. 36 shows that the “format” isselected from the setting menu via operation unit 7. Selecting of the“format” makes a memory card enabled to be formatted.

Formatting of the loaded memory card deletes all image data recordedtherein.

However, physical format processing on write-once storage medium 4 makesall capacity unable to be used. Thus, when write-once storage medium 4is inserted, it is to inhibit format. More specifically, a format menuis so controlled as not to be selected. Or LCD display panel 6 maydisplay that a format processing cannot be executed even if the formatmenu is selected.

FIG. 37 is the flow chart showing a format control to be executed incontrol/processor 301. This processing will start when the setting menuas shown in FIG. 36 is displayed by an operation of operation unit 7.

In step S1801, it is to judge if a memory card in use is write-oncestorage medium 4 and if write-once storage medium 4 is inserted, theflow proceeds to step S1802. In step S1802, format processing in asetting menu screen is made unable to be selected. With this, the formatprocessing on write-once storage medium 4 is inhibited. On the otherhand, in step S1801, when it is judged that write-once storage medium 4is not inserted and overwritable storage medium 3 is inserted, the flowproceeds to step S1803. In step S1803, the format processing in thesetting menu screen is made enabled to be selected. Like this, with suchthe control of the format processing depending upon a memory card, whenwrite-once storage medium 4 is inserted, an inadvertent formatprocessing can be prevented.

(File Optimization Processing: FIG. 38)

A file optimization processing of a memory card inserted into card slot2 of digital camera 31 will be described hereinafter. A fileoptimization is a way of re-arranging files from the beginning andresolving fragmentation of a memory space area. But, since write-oncestorage medium 4 is non overwritable, a file might be mislaid atnot-yet-used area.

Like the format processing, the file optimization processing onwrite-once storage memory 4 might reduce memory capacity. FIG. 38 is theflow chart showing a processing procedure of a file optimization controlto be executed in control/processor 301. This processing will start whenthe setting menu as shown in FIG. 36 is displayed by an operation ofoperation unit 7. In step S1901, it is to judge if an inserted memorycard is write-once storage medium 4 and if write-once storage medium 4is inserted, the flow proceeds to step S1902. In step S1902, fileoptimization processing in the setting menu screen is made unable to beselected. In step S1901, when it is judged that write-once storagemedium 4 is not inserted and overwritable storage medium 3 is inserted,the flow proceeds to step S1903 wherein the format processing in thesetting menu screen is made enabled to be selected.

Accordingly, when write-once storage medium 4 is inserted, the fileoptimization processing cannot be performed.

(Fake Format Processing: FIG. 39)

As described in the foregoing, the format control of FIG. 37 controlssuch that the format processing is inhibited when write-once storagemedium 4 is inserted.

Here, if an operation is executed to perform the format processing onwrite-once storage medium 4, fake format processing is so controlled asto be performed. More specifically, in the event that the formatprocessing is selected via operation unit 7, a controller within amemory card of write-once storage medium 4 receives a format instructionfrom digital camera 31 and then processing is performed to make datainvalid against a used area. And, the controller within the memory carddoes not perform the format processing on a not-yet-used area. Such theprocessing is called the fake format processing. With this processing,data stored in the used area is unable to be read out and data in thenot-yet-used area remains still recordable. In this case, memorycapacity in the used area where the format processing was performedcannot be restored.

Here, when the format processing is selected in the setting menu shownin FIG. 36, the fake format processing is controlled to be performed onwrite-once storage medium 4. Also, when the format processing isselected, a normal format processing is controlled to be performed on amemory card rather than write-once storage medium 4.

FIG. 39 is the flow chart showing a processing procedure of a formatcontrol to be executed in control/processor 301. This processing willstart when the format processing is selected from the setting menuscreen shown in FIG. 36.

In step S2001, it is to judge if an inserted memory card is write-oncestorage medium 4 and if write-once storage medium 4 is inserted, theflow proceeds to step S2002. In step S2002, a message warning thatformatting does not get an increase in memory capacity is displayed onLCD display panel 6. In step S2003, a warning that execution of theformatting will delete recorded data and a message asking if theformatting is executed or cancelled are also displayed on LCD displaypanel 6.

In step S2004, it is to judge if an operation to format is executed andif the operation is executed, the flow proceeds to step S2005. In stepS2005, a controller within a memory card is ordered to format the memorycard. In step S2004, if the operation is not executed, the flow proceedsto step S2006 and it is to judge if a cancel operation is executed. Ifthe cancel operation is executed, the flow is ended and if the canceloperation is not executed, the flow gets back to step S2003.

In step S2007, it is judged if the format processing is finished and ifthe format processing is finished, the flow proceeds to step S2008. Instep S2008, a message saying that the formatting is over is displayed onLCD display panel 6. In step S2007, judgment is kept on until completionof the format processing is detected.

In step S2001, it is judged that write-once storage medium 4 is notinserted and overwritable storage medium 3 is inserted, the flowproceeds to step S2003 without a measurement display in step S2002 and amessage asking if the format processing is executed is displayed on LCDdisplay panel 6.

The control shown in FIG. 39 configures the controller within the memorycard to perform the fake format processing and the normal formatprocessing, so digital camera 31 only outputs a format processing orderto the memory card.

But, when the format processing is performed on a memory card having nointernal controller, digital camera 31 is so configured as to performthe fake format processing on write-once storage medium 4 and the normalformat processing on overwritable storage medium 3.

(Panorama Shooting Process: FIG. 40)

Next, work in a case where a panorama shooting is performed by digitalcamera 31 will be described hereinafter.

A panorama shooting mode is a mode of shooting to make a compositepicture with a plurality of image data, wherein information showingwhere to arrange each image data is recorded along with the image dataso that the image data can be automatically composed.

In the panorama shooting mode, in order to enable to re-shoot a pictureuntil a series of panorama shots are finished, image data taken in thepanorama shooting mode is stored in the provisional storage area inbuffer memory 311. Also, arrangement information about a series ofpanorama image data is stored in the provisional storage area in buffermemory 311 since the information does not come into completion until thepanorama shooting is complete. After the panorama shooting is complete,the image data and arrangement information are moved to write-oncestorage medium 4 from buffer memory 311.

More specifically, a panorama shooting control will be explainedhereinafter.

FIG. 40 is the flow chart showing a processing procedure of a panoramashooting control to be executed in control/processor 301. Thisprocessing will start when the panorama shooting mode is set.

In step S2101, it is to judge if an inserted memory card is write-oncestorage medium 4 and if write-once storage medium 4 is inserted, theflow proceeds to step S2102. In step S2102, it is to judge if a shootingoperation is executed with the shutter release button of operation unit7 and if the shooting operation is executed, the flow proceeds to stepS2103. In step S2103, image data gained by the shooting operation isstored in the temporal storage area of buffer memory 311 and the flowproceeds to step S2104. In step S2102, when the shooting operation isnot executed, the flow proceeds to step S2104.

In step S2104, it is to judge if a delete operation with respect to theimage data shot in step S2102 is executed and if the delete operation isexecuted, the flow proceeds to step S2105, wherein an image data takenjust while ago, that is, the image data shot in step S2102 is deletedfrom buffer memory 311. Then, the flow proceeds to step S2106. When thedelete operation is not detected in step S2104, the flow proceeds tostep S2106.

In step S2106, it is to judge if the panorama shooting mode is released.If the panorama shooting mode is released, the flow proceeds to stepS2107 and if the panorama shooting mode is not released, the flow goesback to step S2102.

In step S2107, it is to judge if there is the image data taken in thepanorama shooting mode in buffer memory 311 has and if there is theimage data in buffer memory 311, the flow proceeds to step S2108 and ifthere is not the image data in buffer memory 311, this flow is ended. Instep S2108, it is to create arrangement information used to make acomposite picture with a series of the image data taken in the panoramashooting mode. The arrangement information is information necessary todecide how to put the series of the image data together into one pictureto make a composite picture.

In step S2109, the created arrangement information is recorded inwrite-once storage medium 4 together with the image data. In step S2110,the image data recorded in write-once storage medium 4 is deleted frombuffer memory 311.

When it is judged in step S2101 that the memory card is not write-oncestorage medium 4 and overwritable storage medium 3 is inserted, the flowproceeds to step S2111.

In step S2111, it is to judge if the shooting operation is executed andif the shooting operation is executed, the flow proceeds to step S2112.In step S2112, it is to perform image processing on the image datagained by the shooting operation in buffer memory 311 and record theprocessed image data in the memory card. Then the flow proceeds to stepS2113. In step S2111, if the shooting operation is not yet executed, theflow proceeds to step S2113.

In step S2113, it is to judge if the delete operation is executed and ifthe delete operation is executed, the flow proceeds to step S2114. Instep S2114, a taken image data just while ago, that is, the image datashot in step S2111 is deleted from the memory card. And then, the flowproceeds to step S2115. In step S2113, if the delete operation is notdetected, the flow proceeds to step S2115.

In step S2115, it is to judge if the panorama shooting mode is released.If the panorama shooting mode is released, the flow proceeds to stepS2116 and if the panorama shooting mode is not released, the flow getsback to step S2111.

In step S2116, it is to judge if there is the image data taken in thepanorama shooting mode in buffer memory 311 has the image data taken inthe panorama shooting mode and if there is the image data in buffermemory 311, the flow proceeds to step S2117 and if there is no imagedata, the flow is ended. In step S2117, the arrangement informationabout the series of the image data taken in the panorama shooting modeis created. Then, in step S2118, the created arrangement information isrecorded in the memory card with link to the image data.

FIG. 40 describes the embodiment in which the panorama shooting controlcan be executed only when write-once storage medium 4 is inserted. But,regardless of a kind of a memory card, a panorama shooting mode settingmay be configured to implement the processing described in FIG. 40 atall times. With this configuration, it is not necessary to prepare twodifferent programs to execute two different controls for use in a casewhere write-once storage medium 4 is inserted or other memory cardrather than medium 4 is inserted

The control of FIG. 40 may be applied to a shooting mode in which aplurality of image data is shot and related information relevant toimage data like the arrangement information is created.

(Panorama Composite Control: FIG. 41)

In the panorama shooting control described in FIG. 40, an example thatcomposition processing of image data is not performed within digitalcamera 31 and the series of the image data and the arrangementinformation are recorded in the memory card is explained herein. In thiscase, software installed in PC etc enables to create image data in orderto put a series of image data together into one picture and create apanorama image based upon the arrangement information. However,composite processing can be performed within digital camera 31 to theextent that image data taken in a panorama shooting iscomposite-processed to create a panorama image.

Specifically, digital camera 31 temporally stores image data each takenin buffer memory 311 until an image composition is complete and recordspanorama image data obtained by the image composition in write-oncestorage medium 4.

FIG. 41 is the flow chart showing a processing procedure of a panoramacomposition control to be executed in control/processor 301. Thisprocessing will start when the panorama shooting mode is set viaoperation unit 7.

In step S2201, it is to judge if an inserted memory card is write-oncestorage medium 4 and if write-once storage medium 4 is inserted, theflow proceeds to step S2202. In step S2202, it is to judge if theshooting operation is executed with the shutter release button ofoperation unit 7 depressed. When the operation is executed. In stepS2203, image data gained by the shooting operation in step S2202 isstored in buffer memory 311. And then, the flow proceeds to step S2204.When the operation is not detected in step S2202, the flow proceeds tostep S2204.

In step S2204, it is to judge if a delete operation to delete the imagedata is operated and if the delete operation is operated, the flowproceeds to step S2205. In step S2205, the image data gained in stepS2202 is deleted from buffer memory 311. Then, the flow proceeds to stepS2206. When the delete operation is not detected in step S2204, the flowproceeds to step S2206.

In step S2206, it is to judge if the panorama shooting mode is released.If the panorama shooting mode is released, the flow proceeds to stepS2207 and if the panorama shooting mode is not released, the flow getsback to step S2202.

In step S2207, it is to judge if there is the image data taken in thepanorama shooting mode in buffer memory 311 and if there is the imagedata, the flow proceeds to step S2208 and if there is not the imagedata, the flow is ended. In step S2208, it is to create arrangementinformation for use in putting a series of image data taken in thepanorama shooting mode together into one picture. The arrangementinformation is information necessary to decide how a series of imagedata are composed to make a composite photograph. In step S2209, it isto perform composite processing on the series of the image data basedupon the created arrangement information to create panorama image. Atthis stage, the panorama image is so processed as to be sized to a sizeof normal image data. In step S2210, the panorama image datacomposite-processed and created in step S2209 is recorded in write-oncestorage medium 4 and at the same time the series of the image data andthe arrangement information are deleted from buffer memory 311.

In step S2201, when it is judged that the inserted memory card isoverwritable storage medium 3, not write-once storage medium 4, the flowproceeds to step S2211. In step S2211, it is to judge if the shootingoperation is executed with the shutter release button of operation unit7 and if the shooting operation is executed, the flow proceeds to stepS2212. In step S2212, it is to process image data gained by the shootingoperation in buffer memory 311 and record the processed image data in amemory card. Then, the flow proceeds to step S2213. When the shootingoperation is not detected in step S2211, the flow proceeds to stepS2213.

In step S2213, it is to judge if a delete operation is executed and ifthe delete operation is executed, the flow proceeds to step S2214. Instep S2214, a taken image data just while ago, that is, the image datataken in step S2211 is deleted from the memory card. Then, the flowproceeds to step S2215. When the delete operation is not detected instep S2213, the flow proceeds to step S2215.

In step S2215, it is to judge if the panorama shooting mode is released.If the panorama shooting mode is released, the flow proceeds to stepS2216 and if the panorama shooting mode is not released, the flow getsback to step S2211.

In step S2116, it is to judge if there is image data taken in thepanorama shooting mode in a memory card and if there is the image data,the flow proceeds to step S2217 and if there is not the image data, theflow is ended. In step S2217, arrangement information about a series ofthe image data taken in the panorama mode is created. At step S22 18, itis to perform composite processing on the series of the image data basedupon the created arrangement information to create a panorama image. Thepanorama image is so processed as to be sized to a size of normal imagedata. Further, in step 2219, the panorama image data is recorded in thememory card and at the same time the series of the image data and thearrangement information are deleted from the memory card. A size of thecomposite image data created in steps S2209 and S2218 as described inthe foregoing is so configured as to correspond to a image size set in anormal shooting, so the composite image can be treated in the same wayas other image data.

(Continuous Shooting Control: FIG. 42)

Work in a case of a continuous shooting in digital camera 31 will beexplained.

In a continuous shooting, there is high possibility that unnecessaryimage data comes out as a few frames are consecutively shot. Thus,digital camera 31 is so controlled as to ask if image data is recordedbefore the image data is recorded in write-once storage medium 4 whenthe continuous shooting is performed.

FIG. 42 is the flow chart showing a processing procedure of a continuousshooting control to be executed in control/processor 301. This flow willstart when the continuous shooting mode is set by an operation ofoperation unit 7.

In step S2301, it is to judge if the continuous shooting is performedwith the shutter release button of operation unit 7 and if thecontinuous shooting is performed, the flow proceeds to step S2302. Whenthe continuous shooting is not performed, processing of S2301 iscontinued.

In step S2302, it is to judge if an inserted memory card is write-oncestorage medium 4 and when write-once storage medium 4 is inserted, theflow proceeds to step S2303. In step S2303, image data taken in stepS2301 is stored in buffer memory 311. At this moment, the image data iscreated in file format to be recorded in a memory card.

In step S2304, it is to detect if the continuous shooting is over. Whenthe continuous shooting is over, the flow proceeds to step S2305 andwhen the continuous shooting is still on, the flow gets back to stepS2303. In step S2305, a taken image is reproduced on LCD display panel 6and a message asking if the reproduced image is deleted withoutrecording the image in write-once storage medium 4 is displayed on LCDdisplay panel 6.

In step S2306, it is to detect if image to be deleted is selectedwithout recording the image in write-once storage medium 4 and if theimage to be deleted is selected, the flow proceeds to step S2307. Instep S2307, it is to record image data that is not selected as the imagedata in step S2306 in write-once storage medium 4 and at the same timedelete the image data from buffer memory 311.

In step S2306, when the image data to be deleted is not selected, theflow proceeds to step S2308. In step S2308, it is to judge if a givenperiod of time has elapsed since reproduction of the image is displayedon LCD display panel 6. When the given period of time has elapsed, theflow proceeds to step S2309, wherein all images taken in the continuousshooting mode are recorded in write-once storage medium 4 and the imagedata thereof is deleted form buffer memory 311. When the given period oftime does not elapse in step S2308, the flow gets back to step S2306.

In step S2302, when it is judged that overwritable storage medium 3 isinserted, not write-once storage medium 4, the flow proceeds to stepS2310. In step S2310, it is to temporally store the image data taken instep S2301 in buffer memory 311, process the image data and at the sametime record image data ready for being recorded in a memory cardsuccessively in the memory card. In step S2311, it is to judge if thecontinuous shooting is over and if the continuous shooting is over, theflow is ended and if the continuous shooting is still on, the flow getsback to step S2310.

Herein, the continuous shooting to be executed in a continuous shot modehas been described so far. But, rather than the continuous shooting, thesame control as shown in FIG. 42 can be applied to a bracket shooting inwhich pictures are shot consecutively at plural times by varyingexposure settings or white balance etc.

Like this, when a shooting mode is to take a picture at a plurality oftimes consecutively, a user is caused to make a choice of an image to berecorded, so a favorite image only can be selected and recorded inwrite-once storage medium 4.

(Record Inquiry Control: FIG. 43)

In the continuous shooting mode, digital camera 31 can be controlled toanalyze taken image data and automatically select suitable image dataand automatically record only the selected image data in write-oncestorage medium 4.

A record inquiry control in digital camera 31 will be explainedhereinafter. A record inquiry control is a control in which, whendigital camera 31 judges that taken image data is a failure image,digital camera 31 prompts a user to cancel record of the image databefore the image data is recorded in write-once storage medium 4.

FIG. 43 is the flow chart of a processing procedure of a record inquirycontrol to be executed in control/processor 301. This flow will startwhen the shooting mode is set by an operation of operation unit 7.

In step S2401, it is to judge if a shooting operation is executed withthe shutter release button of operation unit 7 and if the shootingoperation is executed, the flow proceeds to step S2402 and if theshooting operation is not executed, processing of step S2401 iscontinued. In step S2402, it is judged if an inserted memory card iswrite-once storage medium 4 and if write-once storage medium 4 isinserted, the flow proceeds to step S2403.

In step S2403, it is to perform image-processing etc on the image datataken in step S2401 and temporally store the processed image data inbuffer memory 311. In step S2404, it is to judge if the image stored inbuffer memory 311 in step S2403 is the failure image. For instance, animage such as an out-of-focus image, under-exposed image just takenbefore a battery is not fully charged, a blurred picture etc isgenerally judged as the failure image. And it may be judged if a takenimage is a failure by analyzing the taken image. If it is judged in stepS2404 that the image in step S2403 is the failure image, the flowproceeds to step S2405.

In step S2405, the failure image judged in step S2404 is reproduced onLCD display panel 6 and at the same time, a message inquiring if theimage is deleted without recording it in write-once storage medium 4. Instep S2406, it is to judge if the delete operation is executed withrespect to the reproduction image and if the delete operation isexecuted, the flow proceeds to step S2410, wherein the image to bedeleted is deleted from buffer memory 311.

In step S2406, when the delete operation is not executed, the flowproceeds to step S2407. In step S2407, it is to judge if a given periodof time has elapsed since the failure image is reproduced on LCD displaypanel 6. If the given period of time has elapsed, the flow proceeds tostep S2408 and the image data stored in buffer memory 31 is recorded inwrite-once storage medium 4. When it is judged in step S2407 that thegiven period of time does not elapse, the flow gets back to step S2406.

In step S2402, when overwritable storage medium 3 is inserted, notwrite-once storage medium 4, the flow proceeds to step S2409. In stepS2409, it is to perform image-processing etc on the image data taken instep S2401 and record the processed image data in overwritable storagemedium 3. When it is judged in step S2404 that the image is not thefailure image, the flow proceeds to step S2409 and the image data takenin step S2401 is recorded in a memory card.

As described in the foregoing, regarding a failure image of highpossibility to be deleted, a user is inquired if the image is recorded.This inquiry prevents the failure image from being recorded inwrite-once storage medium 4 and its memory capacity from beingwastefully reduced. And this record inquiry control can prompt the userto re-shoot with respect to the failure image by reproducing the failureimage.

The control shown in FIG. 43 lets the user be inquired if the failureimage is deleted only when it is judged that a taken image is a failure.Therefore, the inquiry into deletion of an image is not performed unlessthe taken image is the failure, so the user is not frustrating byfrequent inquiries.

(Print Setting Control: FIG. 45)

An explanation about a change control of related information about imagedata will be given hereinafter.

There are recorded varieties of information related to each other inimage data gained by shooting. For example, a DPOF (Digital Print OrderFormat) file is configured in text file format describing informationabout printing of image data. In the DPOF file, information about anumber of prints, a print size, a trimming, a rotation (right/left) etcis described. As described in the foregoing, when image data recorded inwrite-once storage medium 4 is deleted, new FAT information is createdand the new FAT information is recorded again by nullifying old FATinformation. Similarly, when print information about image data recordedin write-once storage medium 4 is changed, it is necessary to create anew DPOF file and record the new DPOF file again by nullifying old DPOFfile. In this case, every time print information is changed, write-oncestorage medium 4 is getting a decrease in memory capacity.

A print setting to set a number of prints in digital camera 31 will beexplained hereinafter.

In digital camera 31, print copies become settable by selecting a printsetting menu enables to set a number of print copies. FIG. 44 shows adisplay example of the print setting menu on LCD display panel 6. In theprint setting menu, image data recorded in write-once storage medium 4is reproduced and at the same time, a present print setting is displayedtoo. An example shown in FIG. 44 sets a camera so as to print out twocopies of the reproduction image data. When this print setting menu isset, a user can select image data for the print setting and set thenumber of print copies against the selected image data via an operationof operation unit 7.

But, if the DOPF file recorded in write-once storage medium 4 is renewedever time the print setting of each image data is changed, memorycapacity will get decreased.

Therefore, in digital camera 31, setting change information about theprint setting of each image data is kept stored in buffer memory 311 andwhen the print setting menu is released, a DPOF file is created from thesetting change information and the DOPF file is recorded.

FIG. 45 is the flow chart showing a processing procedure of a printsetting control to be executed in control/processor 301. This processingwill start when the print setting menu is selected via an operation ofoperation unit 7.

In step S2501, it is to judge if an inserted memory card is write-oncestorage medium 4 and if write-once storage medium 4 is inserted, theflow proceeds to step S2502. In step S2502, it is to judge if the printsetting is changed and if the print setting is changed, setting changeinformation is stored in buffer memory 311. Then, the flow proceeds tostep S2504. In step S2502, when it is judged that the setting is notchanged, the flow proceeds to step S2504.

In step S2504, it is to judge if the print setting menu is released andif the print setting menu is released, the flow proceeds to step S2505and if the print setting menu is still on, the flow gets back to stepS2502.

In step S2505, it is to judge if the print setting change information isstored in buffer memory 311 and if the print setting change informationis stored, the flow proceeds to step S2506 and if the print settingchange information is not stored, the flow is ended. In step S2506, theDOPF file is created again in accordance with the print setting changeinformation. In step S2507, the created DOPF file is recorded inwrite-once storage medium 4 by nullifying the old DOPF file. When aninserted memory card is overwritable storage medium 3, not write-oncestorage medium 4, the flow proceeds to step S2508. In step S2508, theDOPF file in the memory card is renewed in accordance with the settingchange information and the flow proceeds to step S2510. In step S2508,when it is judged that the print setting is not changed, the flowproceeds to step S2510.

In step S2510, it is to judge if the print setting menu is released andif the print setting menu is released, the flow is ended and if theprint setting menu is still on, the flow gets back to step S2508.

Like this, when the inserted memory card is write-once storage medium 4,renewal processing of the DPOF file is not performed in response to eachsetting change and instead when the print setting menu is released, theDPOF file is configured to be renewed collectively so that the memorycapacity is not decreased wastefully.

According to this embodiment, setting change information about eachchanged print setting is controlled to be stored in buffer memory 311and when the print setting menu is released, a DPOF file is controlledto be created based upon information stored in buffer memory 311 and thecreated DPOF file is controlled to be recorded in write-once storagemedium 4. But, buffer memory 311 may read in a DPOF file and the DPOFfile in buffer memory 311 may be renewed at every time of a settingchange and then the DPOF file stored in buffer memory 311 may berecorded in write-once storage medium 4 when the print setting menu isreleased.

(Digital Camera Setting Change Control: FIG. 46)

Work when a setting change control is performed in digital camera 31will be described hereinafter. In the foregoing DPOF file, a setting totransfer image data can be described therein. For example, a transfersetting can be set per each image data so that image data isautomatically transferred to a given memory of PC when a memory card isconnected to the PC etc. Further, with digital camera 31, when imagedata is recorded in a memory card, a transfer setting description of theDPOF file can be automatically overwritten. Thus, this eliminates thenecessity of a transfer setting with respect to each image dataafterward.

But, in the event that write-once storage medium 4 is inserted into cardslot 2, if the transfer setting description of the DPOF file isoverwritten at each shooting, an old DPOF file continues to increase ateach shot. This will use memory capacity wastefully.

Therefore, in digital camera 31, the DPOF file is not recorded at eachshot and is so controlled as to be collectively recorded via a givenoperation. In addition to the automatic renewed transfer setting by ashooting operation, all changes of the DPOF file inclusive of theforegoing print setting etc are so controlled as to be processedcollectively.

FIG. 46 is the flow chart showing a processing procedure of a settingchange control to be executed in control/processor 301. This processrepeats itself at any time as long as a power of digital camera 31 ison. And a power is turned on when a cover of card slot 2 is opened evenwithout the power of digital camera 31 and the DPOF file in buffermemory 311 is recorded in write-once storage medium 4.

In step S2521, it is to judge if an inserted memory card is write-oncestorage medium 4 and if write-once storage medium 4 is inserted, theflow proceeds to step S2522. In step S2522, the DPOF file recorded inwrite-once storage medium 4 is read out and stored in buffer memory 311.In step S2523, it is to judge if a shooting operation is executed withthe shutter release button depressed and if the shooting operation isexecuted, the flow proceeds to step S2524. In step S2524, it is toupdate a DPOF file stored in buffer memory 311 with a renewed DPOF filedescribing a transfer setting of image data taken by this shooting.Then, the flow proceeds to step S2525. When the shooting operation isnot detected in step S2523, the flow proceeds to step S2525.

In step S2525, it is to judge if a setting such as a print setting or sois changed and if the setting is changed, the flow proceeds to stepS2526. In step S2526, it is to update the DPOF file stored in buffermemory 311 with a renewed DPOF file describing a changed setting. Then,the flow proceeds to step S2527. If the setting is changed, the flowproceeds to step S2527.

In step S2527, it is to detect if a lid covering card slot 2 is openedand if the lid is opened, the flow proceeds to step S2528 and if the lidopening is not detected, the flow gets back to step S2523. In stepS2528, it is to record the DOPF file stored in buffer memory 311 inwrite-once storage medium 4. In step S2529, the old DOPF file isnullified. In step S2521, when the inserted memory card is overwritablestorage medium 3, not write-once storage medium 4, the flow proceeds tostep S2530. In step S2530, it is to judge if a shooting operation isexecuted and if the shooting operation is executed, the flow proceeds tostep S2531. In step S2531, it is to update a DPOF file stored in buffermemory 311 with a renewed DPOF file describing a transfer setting ofimage data taken by this shooting. Then, the flow proceeds to stepS2532. In step S2530, if the shooting operation is not executed, itproceeds to step S2532.

In step S2532, it is to judge if a setting such as a print setting etcis changed and if the setting is changed, the flow proceeds to stepS2533 and if the setting is not changed, the flow is ended. In stepS2533, it is to update a DPOF file stored in buffer memory 311 with arenewed DPOF file describing a changed setting.

Like this, through detection of opening the lid covering a memory card,the DPOF file is so controlled as to be recorded in write-once storagemedium 4. But, the DPOF file may be controlled to be recorded inwrite-once storage medium 4 by detecting a power switch-OFF, not throughdetection of opening the lid. Also, by detecting a connection to anexternal device such as PC etc, a DPOF file may be controlled to berecorded in write-once storage medium 4. Namely, It is preferable that aDPOF file is recorded in write-once storage medium 4 before image datastored in a memory card is read out outside. And by providing adedicated or a common button for recording the DPOF file in write-oncestorage medium 4, the DPOF file may be recorded in write-once storagemedium 4 via an operation of this button.

And, an explanation about the print setting and the transfer setting inthe DPOF file has been explained so far, but the same control can beapplied to other setting in the DPOF file or management data of otherimage rather than the DPOF file.

(Setting Change Control of Digital Camera 31: FIG. 47)

Work in a case where FAT information stored in buffer memory 311 isrecorded in write-once storage medium 4 when digital camera 31 isconnected to an external device will be described hereinafter.

FIG. 47 is the flow chart showing a processing procedure of a settingchange control to be executed in control/processor 301. This processingrepeats itself as long as the power of digital camera 31 is on. But,even if the power thereof is not turned on, the power thereof issupplied when digital camera 31 is connected to the external device andthe FAT information stored in buffer memory 311 is recorded inwrite-once storage medium 4.

In step S2541, it is to judge if an inserted memory card is write-oncestorage medium 4 and if write-once storage medium 4 is inserted, theflow proceeds to step S2542. In step S2542, it is read out the FATinformation recorded in write-once storage medium 4 and store the readFAT information in buffer memory 311. In step S2543, it is to judge if ashooting operation is executed with the shutter release button ofoperation unit 7 and if the shooting operation is executed, the flowproceeds to step S2544. In step S2544, it is to update the FATinformation stored in buffer memory 311 with renewed FAT informationadding file management information of image data taken by this shooting.Then, the flow proceeds to step S2545. In step S2543, when the shootingoperation is not executed, the flow proceeds to step S2545.

In step S2545, it is to judge if a setting of digital camera 31 such asa delete setting is changed and if the setting is changed, the flowproceeds to step S2546. In step S2546, it is to update the FATinformation stored in buffer memory 311 with renewed FAT informationdescribing a changed setting.

In step S2545, if the setting is not changed, the flow proceeds to stepS2547.

In step S2547, it is to detect if a communication cable etc is connectedto DIGITAL INPUT/OUTPUT TERMINAL 12 and digital camera 31 is connectedto an external device like PC or so and if digital camera 31 isconnected externally, the flow proceeds to step S2548 and if digitalcamera 31 is not connected externally, the flow gets back to step S2543.In step S2548, it is to record FAT information stored in buffer memory311 in write-once storage medium 4. In step S2549, old FAT informationis nullified.

In step S2541, when an inserted memory card is overwritable storagemedium 3, not write-once storage medium 4, the flow proceeds to stepS2550. In step S2550, it is to judge if a shooting operation is executedand if the shooting operation is executed, the flow proceeds to stepS2551. In step S2551, it is to update FAT information stored in buffermemory 311 with renewed FAT information adding file management controlinformation of image data taken by this shooting. Then, the flowproceeds to step S2552. In step S2550, if the shooting operation is notexecuted, the flow proceeds to step S2552. In step S2552, it is to judgeif a setting such as a delete setting is changed and if the setting ischanged, the flow proceeds to step S2553 and if setting is not changed,the flow is ended. In step S2553, FAT information stored in buffermemory 311 is updated with renewed FAT information corresponding to achanged setting.

Like this, when write-once storage medium 4 is inserted, the DPOF fileand the FAT information are controlled to be collectively recorded inwrite-once storage medium 4. But, regardless of a kind of a memory card,the DPOF file and the FAT information may be collectively recorded.

And as explained in the delete operation of image data in FIG. 34, whenmemory capacity is getting smaller, there is a case where the DPOF fileand the FAT information cannot be recorded. In this case, via a messagedisplayed on LCD display panel 6, a user is notified that the settingcannot be changed.

(Right/Left Rotation Control of Image Data: FIG. 48)

Work in a case where a right/left rotation control of image data isperformed in digital camera 31 will be described hereinafter.

Digital camera 31 herein controls so as to process a right/left rotationcontrol using buffer memory 311, delete pre-right/left rotationcontrol-processed image data recorded in a memory card and then recordpost-right/left rotation control-processed image data. When write-oncestorage medium 4 is inserted, as memory capacity does not increase evenif the pre-right/left rotation control-processed image data is deleted,there is a case where the post-right/left rotation control-processedimage data cannot be recorded in the memory. Therefore, when write-oncestorage medium 4 is inserted, a DPOF file is processed to change aright/left description instead of actually implementing a right/leftrotation control of image data. Processing of a right/left rotationcontrol will be specifically described hereinafter.

FIG. 48 is the flow chart showing a processing procedure of a right/leftrotation control to be executed in control/processor 301. Thisprocessing will start when the right/left rotation control is executed.

In step S2601, it is to judge if an inserted memory card is write-oncestorage medium 4 and if write-once storage medium 4 is inserted, theflow proceeds to step S2602. In step S2602, it is to create a DPOF filethat changes a description of a right/left rotation and record the filein write-once storage medium 4. At this moment, an old DPOF file isnullified. In step S2601, if the inserted memory card is overwritablestorage medium 3, not write-once storage medium 4, the flow proceeds tostep S2603. In step S2603, it is to create image data that performs aright/left rotation using buffer memory 311. In step S2604, thepre-rotated image data is deleted from the memory card and, in stepS2605, it is record the post-rotated image data in the memory card.

Accordingly, without decreasing memory capacity of write-once storagemedium 4, processing of the right/left rotation of image data can beperformed. The image data changing a description of a right/leftrotation in the DPOF file in step S2602 can be reproduced using softwarecorresponding to the right/left rotation control of the DPOF file.

(Right/Left Rotation of Image Data 2: FIG. 49)

Another example of right/left rotation control processing in digitalcamera 31 will be described hereinafter. Digital camera 31 controls soas to perform a right/left rotation processing on image data when memorycapacity of write-once storage medium 4 is more than given capacity and,when the memory capacity is not more than the given capacity, digitalcamera 31 controls so as to change a right/left rotation description inthe DPOF file, not to perform the right/left rotation processing.

FIG. 49 is the flow chart showing a processing procedure of a right/leftrotation control to be executed in control/processor 301. This flow willstart when an operation of a right/left rotation is executed viaoperation unit 7. In step S2701, it is to judge if an inserted memorycard is write-once storage medium 4 and if write-once storage medium 4is inserted, the flow proceeds to step S2702. In step S2702, it is tojudge if memory capacity of write-once storage medium 4 is equal to andmore than that of image data of which the right/left rotation will beperformed and when the memory capacity thereof is equal to and more thanthat of the image data, the flow proceeds to step S2703 and when thememory capacity thereof is not equal to and more than that of the imagedata, the flow proceeds to step S2706. In step S2703, the right/leftrotation is processed using buffer memory 311. In step S2704, it isrecord the post-rotated image data in write-once storage medium 4. Instep S2705, it is to delete the pre-rotated image data recorded inwrite-once storage medium 4.

In step S2702, when the memory capacity thereof is less than that of theimage data, the flow proceeds to step S2706. In step S2706, as there isno memory capacity to record the post-rotated image data, it is tocreate a DPOF file that changes a description of a right/left rotationis created and record the created file in write-once storage medium 4.At this moment, an old DPOF file is nullified.

In step S2701, when it is judged if the inserted memory card isoverwritable storage medium 3, not write-once storage medium 4, the flowproceeds to step S2707. In step S2707, it is to create image dataprocessed with the right/left rotation using buffer memory 311. In stepS2708, it is to delete the pre-rotated image data. In step S2709, it isto record the post-rotated image data in the memory card.

In this way, if memory capacity of write-once storage medium 4 is small,the description of the right/left rotation of the DPOF file is changed,not processing the right/left rotation. Accordingly, even if the memorycapacity thereof is small, the image data processed with the right/leftrotation can be accurately reproduced using software corresponding tothe description of the right/left rotation of the DPOF file.

(Right/Left Rotation Control of Image Data 3: FIG. 50)

Further, another example of the right/left rotation control in digitalcamera 31 will be described hereinafter.

Herein, digital camera 31 warns a user that, when memory capacity ofwrite-once storage medium 4 is less than given capacity, the right/leftrotation is inhibited and the right/left rotation processing cannot beperformed.

FIG. 50 is the flow chart showing a processing procedure of a right/leftrotation control to be executed in control/processor 301. Thisprocessing will start when the right/left rotation operation is executedvia operation unit 7.

In step S2801, it is to judge if an inserted memory card is write-oncestorage medium 4 and if write-once storage medium 4 is inserted, theflow proceeds to step S2802 and if write-once storage medium 4 is notinserted, it proceeds to step S2807. In step S2802, it is to judge ifmemory capacity of write-once storage medium 4 is equal to and more thanthat of image data of the right/left rotation to be processed and whenthe memory capacity thereof is equal to and more than that of the imagedata, the flow proceeds to step S2803. In step S2803, it is to performthe right/left rotation processing using buffer memory. In step S2804,it is to record the post-rotated image data in write-once storage medium4 and delete the pre-rotated image data recorded in write-once storagemedium 4.

In step S2802, when the memory capacity thereof is less than that of theimage data, the flow proceeds to step S2806. In step S2806, as there isno memory capacity to record the post-rotated image data, it is to warnthat the right/left rotation cannot be processed. For example, a messagethat the right/left rotation cannot be processed is displayed on LCDdisplay panel 6.

In step S2801, when the inserted memory card is overwritable storagemedium 3, not write-once storage medium 4, the flow proceeds to stepS2807. In step S2807, it is to create image data processed with theright/left rotation using buffer memory 311. In step S2808, it is todelete the pre-rotated image data. In step S2809, it is to record thepost-rotated image data in the memory card.

In this way, when memory capacity of write-once storage medium 4 getssmall, a user can be notified that the right/left rotation processingcannot be performed.

(Index Creation Control: FIG. 51)

An explanation about work in a case where an index creation control indigital camera 31 is performed will be given hereinafter.

Digital camera 31 automatically creates index data when memory capacityof write-once storage medium 4 is equal to and less than given capacityand records the index data in write-once storage medium 4. The indexdata is to make image data information recorded in write-once storagemedium 4 readily understood. The index data is created from informationabout a thumbnail of image data, a shooting date/time etc and isconfigured so that contents of recorded image data can be viewed. Dataformat of the index data is created in, for example, HTML format orformat equivalent to HTML, so that the index data is so created as to becapable of being viewed with browsing software available on the market.

Like this, by recording index data on write-once storage medium 4,contents of the memory card can be confirmed readily even when there areseveral write-once storage media 4.

Digital camera 31 automatically starts creating index data when thememory capacity of write-once storage medium 4 becomes equal to and lessthan the given capacity thereof and records the created index data inwrite-once storage medium 4.

FIG. 51 is the flow chart showing a processing procedure of an indexdata creation control to be executed in control/processor 301. Thisprocessing repeats itself as long as the power of digital camera 31 ison.

In step S2901, it is to judge if an inserted memory card is write-oncestorage medium 4 and if write-once storage medium 4 is inserted, theflow proceeds to step S2902 and if write-once storage medium 4 is notinserted, the flow is ended.

In step S2902, the memory capacity of write-once storage medium 4 isdetected and it is to judge if the memory capacity thereof is equal toand less than given capacity. When the memory capacity thereof is equalto and less than the given capacity, the flow proceeds to step S2903 andwhen the memory capacity thereof is not equal to and less than givencapacity, the flow is ended.

In step S2903, it is read in a thumbnail of image data recorded inwrite-once storage medium 4 and related information. In step S2904, theindex data is created based upon information read in step S2903. In stepS2905, it is to judge if the index data creation is over and if theindex data creation is over, the flow proceeds to step S2906 and if theindex data creation is not over, the flow gets back to step S2904 tocontinue the creation of the index data.

In step S2906, the created index data is recorded in write-once storagemedium 4.

Herein, the index data is so controlled as to be created depending uponcapacity of write-once storage medium 4. However, a button to instructthe index data creation may be provided so that an operation of thebutton can create the index data.

Also, although the index data is controlled to be automatically createdin the control of FIG. 51, a user may be inquired about the index datacreation.

(Transfer Management Control: FIG. 52)

Work at a time of a transfer management control in digital camera 31will be described hereinafter.

Generally, a overwritable memory card used in a digital camera is usedagain in the digital camera after image data is transferred to an imagestorage unit like PC etc and the transferred image data is deleted.Although write-once storage medium 4 cannot be used again deleting imagedata, it is conceivable that image data is transferred to the imagestorage unit.

As described in the above, in the event that the overwritable memorycard is in use, the transferred image data is deleted after image datais transferred to the image storage unit. Or as the transferred imagedata is set to be automatically deleted, there is small possibility thatthe once transferred image data will be transferred again. But, inwrite-once storage medium 4, as image data is not deleted after it istransferred, a user might forget that a recorded image data was alreadytransferred after the image was transferred. In this case, there arecases where a once transferred image data is transferred again and gainand a user feels annoying to confirm many times if image data wastransferred.

Therefore, digital camera 31 creates and records management data tomanage an image data transfer when an inserted memory card is write-oncestorage medium 4. In the management data, there is described transferinformation about a presence or an absence of a transfer, transferdate/time information and receiver information etc per each recordedimage data. The transfer management data may be managed as independentmanagement data or be recorded on an Exif maker note or so. Image dataof a memory card is outputted via DIGITAL INPUT/OUTPUT TERMINAL 12 ofdigital camera 31 and the image data is transferred to an image storageunit. DIGITAL INPUT/OUTPUT TERMINAL 12 and the image storage unit iselectrically connected to each other via a cable or so. An explanationabout a transfer management control will be specifically givenhereinafter.

FIG. 52 is the flow chart showing a processing procedure of a transfermanagement control to be executed in control/processor 301. Thisprocessing will start when a transfer of image data is started via aDIGITAL INPUT/OUTPUT TERMINAL.

In step S3001, it is to judge if an inserted memory card is write-oncestorage medium 4 and if write-once storage medium 4 is inserted, theflow proceeds to step S3002. In step S3002, it is to detect ifmanagement data is recorded in write-once storage medium 4. When themanagement data is recorded, the flow proceeds to step S3003.

In step S3003, image data instructed to be transferred is compared withmanagement data in order to check that the image data instructed to betransferred was already transferred. In step S3004, it is to judge froma comparison result if the image data instructed to be transferred wastransferred and if the image data was transferred, the flow proceeds tostep S3005. In step S3005, a message that the image data instructed tobe transferred was already transferred and its previous transferreceiver are displayed on LCD display panel. And further a messageinquiring if a transfer of the image data is needed is displayedthereon.

In step S3006, it is to judge if an operation to transfer the image datais executed and if the operation is executed and is needed, the flowproceeds to step S3007.

In step S3002, when it is judged that the management data is notrecorded in write-once storage medium 4, the flow proceeds to stepS3007. In step S3004, when it is judged that the image data is not yettransferred, the flow proceeds to step S3007. In step S3007, the imagedata instructed to be transferred is transferred to an image storageunit. In step S3008, it is to judge if a transfer of the image data iscomplete and if the transfer of the image data is complete, the flowproceeds to step S3009 and if the transfer of the image data is notcomplete, the flow gets back to step S3007, wherein it is to keep ontransferring the image data. In step S3006, when an operation not totransfer the image data is executed and the transfer of the image datais not needed, the flow proceeds to step S3009.

In step S3009, it is to check if all transfers of all image datainstructed to be transferred are complete and if the transfers arecomplete, the flow proceeds to step S3010 and if the transfers are notcomplete, the flow gets back to step S3003 to perform processing onimage data to be transferred next time. In step S3010, it is to createtransfer management data describing transfer information about thistransferred image data and to record the created transfer managementdata in write-once storage medium 4.

In step S3001, when an inserted memory card is not write-once storagemedium 4, the flow proceeds to step S3011. In step S3011, the image datainstructed to be transferred is transferred to the image storage unit.In step S3012, it is to check if all transfers of all image datainstructed to be transferred are complete and if the transfers arecomplete, the flow is ended and if the transfers are not complete, theflow gets back to step S3011 to keep on the transfer.

As described in the above, when the image data is already transferred,the inquiry is displayed to get a confirmation from a user so that thesame image data can be prevented from being transferred many times.

Fourth Embodiment

A digital camera system in accordance with a fourth embodiment of thisinvention will be described hereinafter. A configuration of the digitalcamera of the fourth embodiment is the same as in the third embodimentshown in FIG. 20.

As write-once storage medium 4 is not rewritable once overwritten, auser using digital camera 31 loaded with write-once storage medium 4 cantend to be careful in shooting. Due to this carefulness, the user canmiss a shooting chance, which erodes a merit of a digital cameraenabling to shoot anytime anywhere at ease.

Therefore, the fourth embodiment, even when write-once storage medium 4is inserted, enables to realize a shooting at ease. An explanation abouta variety of controls in digital camera 31 will be given hereinafter.

Digital camera 31 in accordance with the fourth embodiment stores imagedata in buffer memory 311 until the image is instructed to be recordedin write-once storage medium 4 or be deleted without being recorded inwrite-once storage medium 4. In digital camera 31, an area within buffermemory 311 is divided into two parts. One area is used for imageprocessing etc as a working area to function as a normal buffer memoryand the other is for use as a temporary storage area to temporarilystore the image data after image-processed. When a shooting operation isexecuted, pre-processed image data and image data in process are storedby using a working area of buffer memory 311. The finished image datathrough image-processing etc is also stored in the temporary storagearea. At this time, the image data stored in the temporary storage areais being created in Exif format which enables the image data to berecorded in write-once storage medium 4 as it is.

With the image data created in the Exif format, when the image data isrecorded in write-once storage medium 4, the image data stored in buffermemory 311 is simply copied. Thus, a file creation date/time and aserial number attached to somewhere in a file name are those at a timeof storing the image data. Accordingly, even if a sequence order totransfer the image data from buffer memory 311 to write-once storagemedium 4 is different from a shooting sequence order, the file creationdate/time and the serial number are assigned in the shooting sequenceorder so that an operation to re-arrange or reproduce the image data inthe shooting order can be easily executed. In the image data stored inbuffer memory 311, however, if there is image data that is not recordedin write-once storage medium 4, a missing number will occur in a serialnumber.

When the image data is stored in buffer memory 311, folder informationabout a memory card set as a record location to record the image data inthe memory card at a shooting is stored too. And when the image data isrecorded from buffer memory 311 to write-once storage medium 4, thisfolder information is used. Accordingly, even when a folder now set asthe record location is different from a folder set as the recordlocation at a shooting, the image data can be recorded in the folder setas the record location at the shooting. Therefore, a series of takenimage data so as to be recorded in a same folder will never be recordedin a different folder.

A control in digital camera 31 in accordance with the fourth embodimentwill be explained hereinafter.

(Record Control of Image Data: FIG. 53)

FIG. 53 is the flow chart showing a processing procedure of a recordcontrol to be executed in control/processor 301. This processing willstart when an image taking is complete.

In step S3101, it is to judge if an inserted memory card is write-oncestorage medium 4 and if write-once storage medium 4 is inserted, theflow proceeds to step S3102 and if write-once storage medium 4 is notinserted, it proceeds to step S3109. In step S3102, image data iscreated in the Exif format and the created image data is stored in thetemporary storage area in buffer memory 311. Folder information aboutthe record location in a memory card is stored in the temporary storagearea in buffer memory 311 at the same time.

In step S3103, the image data is reproduced on LCD display panel 6 andat the same time, a message inquiring if the reproduced image data isrecorded or deleted is displayed thereon. FIG. 54 shows a displayexample on LCD display panel 6. In step S3104, it is to check if a givenperiod of time has elapsed since the image is displayed on LCD displaypanel 6 and if the given period of time has elapsed, the flow is endedand if the given period of time does not elapse, the flow proceeds tostep S3105.

In step S3105, it is to check if an operation is executed to record theimage data in reproduction. If the operation is executed, the flowproceeds to step S3106 and if the operation is not executed, the flowproceeds to step S3107.

In step S3106, it is to order this taken image data temporarily storedin buffer memory 311 to be recorded in write-once storage medium 4 anddelete the image data in buffer memory 311 that was recorded inwrite-once storage medium 4.

In step S3107, it is to check if an operation is executed to delete theimage data in reproduction and if the delete operation is checked, theflow proceeds to step S3108 and if the delete operation is not checked,the flow gets back to step S3103. In step S3108, it is to delete thistaken image data temporarily stored in buffer memory 311.

When it is judged that an inserted memory card is not write-once storagemedium 4, the flow proceeds to step S3109. In step S3109, it is tocreate image data in Exif format and order an image file in Exif to berecorded in the memory card. In step S3110, the image data is reproducedon LCD display panel 6 and at the same time, a message inquiring if thereproduced image data is deleted is displayed thereon. Herein, as theimage data was already recorded in the memory card, a user is notinquired if the image data is recorded.

In step S3111, it is to check if the given period of time has elapsedsince the reproduced image is displayed on LCD display panel 6 and ifthe given period of time has elapsed, the flow is ended and if the givenperiod of time has not elapsed, the flow proceeds to step S3112.

In step S3112, it is to check if a delete operation to delete the imagedata is executed and if the delete operation is executed, the flowproceeds to step S3113 and if the delete operation is not executed, theflow gets back to step S3110. In step S3113, it is to delete this takenimage data stored in the memory card.

As described in the foregoing, by reproducing the taken image andchecking if the taken image is recorded in write-once storage medium 4,a user can take a picture at ease forgetting write-once storage medium4.

(Capacity Secure Control of Buffer Memory: FIG. 55)

There is a limit to a number of image data that can be temporarilystored in buffer memory 311 and buffer memory 311 is volatile. Thus,without losing the image data temporarily stored in buffer memory 311,the image data is needed to be so controlled as to be recorded inwrite-once storage medium 4 without fail. Herein, capacity of thetemporary storage area in buffer memory 311 is controlled to vary withresidual capacity of write-once storage medium 4 in use. Specifically,the temporary storage area of buffer memory 311 is secured as an upperlimit of residual capacity of write-once storage medium 4. With thissecuring, all of image data stored in buffer memory 311 can be recordedin write-once storage medium 4. Thus, there is no situation that takenimage data cannot be recorded in write-once storage medium 4.

A capacity secure control in digital camera 31 will be explainedhereinafter using FIG. 55.

FIG. 55 is the flow chart showing a processing procedure of a capacitysecure control to be executed in control/processor 301. This processingis repeated as long as the mode is set to the shooting mode.

In step S3201, it is to check if an inserted memory card is write-oncestorage medium 4 and if write-once storage medium 4 is inserted, theflow proceeds to step S3202 and if write-once storage medium 4 is notinserted, the flow is ended.

In step S3202, it is check capacity of write-once storage medium 4. Instep S3203, it is to check if the capacity of write-once storage medium4 is equal to and less than given capacity. When the capacity ofwrite-once storage medium 4 is equal to and less than given capacity,the flow proceeds to step S3204. In step S3204, it is to secure an areaof buffer memory 311 with the same residual capacity of write-oncestorage medium 4 as the temporary storage area for image data.

In step S3203, when the capacity of write-once storage medium 4 is abovethe given capacity, the flow proceeds to step S3205. In step S3205, itis to secure an area of buffer memory 311 with the given capacity as theimage data temporary storage area. Herein, the given capacity isdetermined after securing trouble-free capacity as the working area ofbuffer memory 311.

As described in the foregoing, the capacity of the temporal storage areain buffer memory 311 is set so that image data cannot be shot exceedingresidual capacity of write-once storage medium 4. Thus, taken image datacan be recorded in write-once storage medium 4 without fail.

(Residual Capacity Display Control: FIG. 56)

If taken image data is stored in buffer memory 311, the residualcapacity of write-once storage medium 4 does not decrease. Thus, if onlya detected amount of residual capacity in write-once storage medium 4 isdisplayed, a picture taking does not get decreased in the displayedresidual capacity when buffer memory 311 stores image data. Further,there is a case where a picture cannot be taken even with residualcapacity of write-once storage medium 4, so a user get confused.

Therefore, digital camera 31 displays a value subtracting a data amountof the image temporarily stored in buffer memory 311 from residualcapacity of write-once storage medium 4 as residual capacity on LCDdisplay panel 6.

FIG. 56 is the flow chart showing a processing procedure of a residualcapacity display control to be executed in control/processor 301. Thisprocessing is repeated as long as the shooting mode is set.

In step S3301, it is to check if an inserted memory card is write-oncestorage medium 4 and if write-once storage medium 4 is inserted, theflow proceeds to step S3302 and if write-once storage medium 4 is notinserted, the flow proceeds to step S3306.

In step S3302, capacity of write-once storage medium 4 is detected. Instep S3303, it is to detect the data amount of the image temporarilystored in buffer memory 311. In step S3304, it is to make a calculationto subtract the data amount of the image temporarily stored in buffermemory 311 from residual capacity of write-once storage medium 4. Instep S3305, it is to calculate a number of remaining framescorresponding to the capacity calculated in step S3304.

In step S3306, it is to detect residual capacity of the memory card. Instep S3307, it is to calculate a number of remaining framescorresponding to the residual capacity thereof.

In step S3308, it is to display the number of remaining framescalculated in step S3305 or S3307 on LCD display panel 6. FIG. 57 showsa display example of the number of remaining frames on LCD display panel6. FIG. 57 shows that there are 22 frames left.

With this control, residual capacity available for an actual shooting isdisplayed, so a user can concentrate on a picture taking.

(Battery-related Control: FIG. 58)

An explanation about a battery related control in digital camera 31 willbe given hereinafter.

Buffer memory 311 used in digital camera 31 is a volatile memory, soimage data temporarily stored in buffer memory 311 will disappear whenthe battery becomes dead.

Thus, digital camera 31 controls so as to check residual capacity of abattery driving digital camera 31 and, when it is detected that thebattery capacity becomes below a given level, digital camera 31 controlsso as to automatically record image data temporarily stored in buffermemory 311 in write-once storage medium 4 so that a disappearance of theimage data is avoided.

FIG. 58 is the flow chart showing a processing procedure of a batteryrelated control to be executed in control/processor 301. This flow isrepeatedly executed at any time.

In step S3401, it is to detect residual capacity of a battery and whenthe residual capacity of the battery is below given capacity, the flowproceeds to step S3402 and the flow is ended when the capacity is abovethe given capacity. In step S3402, it is to check if image data isstored in the temporary storage area in buffer memory 311 and if theimage data is stored, the flow proceeds to step S3403 and if the imagedata is not stored, this flow is ended. In step S3403, it is toautomatically record image data stored in buffer memory 311 inwrite-once storage medium 4. Further, in step S3404, it is to delete thetemporarily stored image data from buffer memory 311.

With this control, the image data temporarily stored in buffer memory311 is recorded on write-once storage medium 4 before the batterybecomes exhausted, so a taken image data can be prevented fromdisappearing.

(Battery-related Control 2: FIG. 59)

Another example of a battery related control in digital camera 31 willbe explained hereinafter.

FIG. 58 shows the control in which the image data temporarily stored inbuffer memory 311 is automatically recorded in write-once storage medium4. But, herein, a user is prompted to transcribe image data temporarilystored in buffer memory 311 to write-once storage medium 4.

FIG. 59 is the flow chart showing a processing procedure of abattery-related control to be executed in control/processor 301. Thisprocessing is repeatedly executed at any time. In step S3501, it is todetect residual capacity of a battery and when the residual capacity ofthe battery is below given capacity, the flow proceeds to step S3502 andwhen the capacity is above the given capacity, the flow is ended. Instep S3502, it is to check if image data is stored in the temporarystorage area in buffer memory 311 and if the image data is stored, theflow proceeds to step S3503 and if the image data is not stored, thisflow is ended. In step S3503, it is to display a message prompting auser to record image data stored in buffer memory 311 in write-oncestorage medium 4. FIG. 60 shows a message display example.

Like this, with the display of the message depending upon the residualcapacity of the battery, a user's attention can be attracted.

(Battery-related Control 3: FIG. 61)

Further, another examples of a battery-related control in digital camera31 will be explained.

As buffer memory 311 is the volatile memory, so, when a battery in usewith digital camera 31 is pulled out of digital camera 31 or a powercable connected to digital camera 31 is unplugged, image data stored inbuffer memory 311 gets disappeared. Thus, in this case, a user is warnedthat a battery should not be pulled out of a camera or a power cordshould not be unplugged from a camera when image data is stored inbuffer memory 311. FIG. 61 is the flow chart showing a processingprocedure of a battery-related control to be executed incontrol/processor 301. This flow is repeatedly executed at any time.

In step S3601, it is to judge if image data is stored in buffer memory311 and if the image data is stored, the flow proceeds to step S3602 andif the image data is not stored, the flow is ended. In step S3602, it isto check a power source in use with digital camera 31 and if the powersource is a battery power, the flow proceeds to step S3603 and if an ACpower is used, the flow proceeds to step S3604.

In step S3603, LCD display panel 6 displays a warning message that abattery should not be pulled out of a camera otherwise image data storedin the temporal storage area in buffer memory 311 gets disappeared. Instep S3604, also a warning message that an AC power cable should not beunplugged from a camera is displayed on LCD display panel 6.

It is preferable that a warning message to be displayed on LCD displaypanel 6 is displayed on a display device that always stays turned on.

(Record Control: FIG. 62)

A record control in digital camera 31 in accordance with the fourthembodiment of this invention will be described hereinafter.

Herein, digital camera 31 automatically records image data in write-oncestorage medium 4 without waiting for a user's decision when capacity ofthe image data stored in buffer memory 311 becomes above given capacity.

FIG. 62 is the flow chart showing a processing procedure of a recordcontrol to be executed in control/processor 301. This processing will beexecuted when a shooting mode is set with write-once storage medium 4 inuse.

In step S3701, it is to detect if a shooting operation is executed withthe shutter release button of operation unit 7 depressed. If theshooting operation is executed, the flow proceeds to step S3702 and ifthe shooting operation is not executed, the detection in step S3701 iscontinued. In step S3702, it is to process a taken image to create imagedata and to store the created image data in the temporary storage areain buffer memory 311. And a reproduced image is displayed on LCD displaypanel 6. At this moment, a user is inquired if the reproduced image isrecorded in write-once storage medium 4 or deleted as shown in FIG. 54.

In step S3703, it is to check if a record operation is executed and ifthe record operation is executed, the flow proceeds to step S3704 and ifthe record operation is not executed, the flow proceeds to step S3705.In step S3704, it is to record a taken image data being reproduced onLCD display panel 6 in write-once storage medium 4 and to delete thetaken image data from the temporary storage area in buffer memory 311.In step S3705, it is to check if a delete operation is executed and ifthe delete operation is executed, the flow proceeds to step S3706 and ifthe delete operation is not executed, the flow proceeds to step S3707.In step S3706, it is to delete the reproduced taken image data from thetemporary storage area in buffer memory 311. In step S3707, it is tocheck if a given period of time has elapsed since the reproduced imageis displayed on LCD display panel 6 and if the given period of time haselapsed, the flow proceeds to step S3708 and if the given period of timedoes not elapse, the flow gets back to step S3703.

In step S3708, it is to detect capacity of the image data stored in thetemporary storage area in buffer memory 311 and in step S3709, it is tojudge if the capacity of the image data is above given capacity and ifthe capacity of the image data is above the given capacity, the flowproceeds to step S3710 and when the capacity of the image data is belowthe given capacity, the flow is ended.

In step S3710, out of image data stored to the temporary storage area inbuffer memory 311, it is to reads out an oldest taken image data. Instep S3711, it is to record the read-out image data in write-oncestorage medium 4 and delete this image data from buffer memory 311. Theprocessing is executed between step S3708 and step S3711 repeatedlyuntil the capacity of the image data stored in the temporary storagearea in buffer memory 311 becomes small below the given capacity.

Accordingly, this control prevents a user from being unable to take apicture although write-once storage medium 4 has residual capacity.Also, when the capacity of the image data stored in buffer memory 311becomes above the given capacity, the image data is automaticallyrecorded in write-once storage medium 4, so capacity of buffer memory311 can be secured without deleting the image data stored in buffermemory 311 automatically.

According to the control shown in FIG. 62, it is judged, in response tothe capacity of the image data stored in the temporary storage area inbuffer memory 311, if the image data is automatically recorded inwrite-once storage medium 4. But, the image data may be automaticallyrecorded when a number of the stored image data exceeds a given numberof image data, not responding to the capacity of the image data storedin buffer memory 311.

FIG. 62 describes the control in which the image data is recorded inwrite-once storage medium 4 preferentially from the oldest taken imagedata out of the image data stored in buffer memory 311. However, apriority order of image data to be recorded in write-once storage medium4 is not limited to a shooting order, but may be in order of a dataamount of the image data. When the data amount of the image data storedin buffer memory 311 becomes large, a taken image data may be directlyrecorded in write-once storage medium 4, leaving the image data storedin buffer memory 311 intact.

Also, depending upon the data amount of the image data stored in buffermemory 311, the image data is not automatically recorded in write-oncestorage medium 4, but a message prompting a user to record the imagedata in write-once storage medium 4 may be displayed.

(Memory Capacity Display Control: FIG. 63)

An explanation about a memory capacity display control will be givenhereinafter.

Herein, this control permits to store image data in buffer memory 311beyond capacity capable of recording in a memory card. With thiscontrol, image data can be shot in the event of an emergency. Morespecifically, when image data is stored in the temporary storage area inbuffer memory 311 exceeding residual capacity of the memory card, aminus indication is added in displaying a number of remaining frames.This display lets a user know that memory capacity now in use exceedsthe residual capacity. This capacity display control may be applied tonot only write-once storage medium 4 but also other memory card in use.

FIG. 63 is the flow chart showing a processing procedure of a memorycapacity display control to be executed in control/processor 301. Thisprocessing will start when a shooting operation is executed with theshutter release button of operation unit 7 depressed.

In step S3701, it is to detect memory capacity of a memory card in useand judge if the memory card has capacity to record taken image data. Ifthe memory card has the capacity to record the image data, the flowproceeds to step S3802 and if the memory card does not have thecapacity, the flow proceeds to step S3803. In step S3802, it is to checkif the memory card in use is write-once storage medium 4. If the memorycard is write-once storage medium 4, the flow proceeds to step S3803 andif the memory card is not write-once storage medium 4, the flow proceedsto step S3809.

In step S3803, the taken image data is stored in the temporary storagearea in buffer memory 311. In step S3804, a number of remaining framesare calculated from residual capacity of the memory card. When thememory card in use is other memory card rather than write-once storagemedium 4 and when it is judged that there is no capacity even inwrite-once storage medium 4 in use, the number of remaining framesbecomes 0-frame. In step S3804, it is to check a number of storingframes of image data stored in buffer memory 311. In step S3806, it isto calculate a number of remaining frames by deducting the number ofstoring frames in buffer memory 311 calculated in step S3804 from thenumber of remaining frames of the memory card calculated in step S3804.This is the same number of remaining frame calculation control as in theresidual capacity display control of FIG. 56.

In step S3807, it is to judge if the number of remaining framescalculated in step S3806 is minus and if the number of remaining framesis minus, the flow proceeds to step S3808 and if the number of remainingframes is not minus, the flow proceeds to step S3810. In step S3808, itis to display the number of remaining frames with the minus indicationon LCD display panel 6 as shown in FIG. 64. It is preferable that theminus display is displayed in different color from a display color of anormal number of remaining frames. In step S3810, as shown in FIG. 57,it is to display the number of remaining frames on LCD display panel 6.

When the memory card has capacity to record image data and a memory cardin use is not write-once storage medium 4, in step S3809, it is tocalculate the number of remaining frames from residual capacity. In stepS3810, it is to display the number of remaining frames as shown in FIG.57.

Accordingly, even if there is no capacity in the memory card, a shootingis permitted. At this moment, by displaying the number of remainingframes with the minus indication, a user can be informed that a shootingis under the emergency. It may be enough to attract a user's attentioneven if the minus-indicated number of remaining frames is not displayed.Also, a warning comment may be displayed on LCD display panel 6.

(Memory Capacity Display Control 2: FIG. 65)

Another example of a memory capacity display control in digital camera31 will be described hereinafter.

FIG. 65 is the flow chart showing a processing procedure of a memorycapacity display control to be executed in control/processor 301.

In step S3901, it is to judged f an inserted memory is write-oncestorage medium 4 and if write-once storage medium 4 is inserted, theflow proceeds to step S3902 and if the inserted memory is not write-oncestorage medium 4, the flow proceeds to step S3907.

In step S3902, it is to check residual capacity of write-once storagemedium 4 and in step S3903, it is to calculate the number of remainingframes from residual capacity of write-once storage medium 4. In stepS3904, it is to detect capacity of the temporary storage area in buffermemory 311. In step S3905, it is to calculate the number of remainingframes from the residual capacity of the temporary storage area inbuffer memory 311 detected in step S3904.

In step S3906, it is to calculate a total number of the remaining framesin write-once storage medium 4 calculated in step S3903 and remainingframes in buffer memory 311 calculated in step S3905. And in step S3309,it is to display the total number of the remaining frame calculated instep S3906 on LCD display panel 6.

In step S3907, it is to detect capacity of the memory card is detectedand in step S3908, it is to calculate a number of remaining frames fromresidual capacity of the memory card. The number of remaining framescalculated in step S3908 is displayed on LCD display panel 6.

As described in the foregoing, when displaying the summation of residualcapacity adding together residual capacity of the memory card insertedinto card slot 2 and residual capacity of buffer memory 311, the numberof remaining frames are not simply calculated from the total of eachresidual capacity, but a number of remaining frames capable of recordingin each memory is calculated respectively and then a summation of theremaining frames are displayed. This control enables to display a numberof frames capable of recording image data without fail.

In the fourth embodiment, wherein, only when write-once storage medium 4is loaded into digital camera 31, buffer memory 311 is used as thetemporal storage memory, so the display of the residual capacity is socontrolled as to be the summation of the residual capacity in combiningwrite-once storage medium 4 and buffer memory 311. But, this calculationcontrol of the summation of the residual capacity explained herein withreference to FIG. 65 may be applied to any digital camera if the digitalcamera records image data in a plurality of memories regardless of akind of a memory.

Digital camera 31 enables to display any of a number of remaining framesor a number of undecided frames respectively by change over the numberof the remaining frames and the number of the undecided frames. Thenumber of the undecided frames is a number of image data stored inbuffer memory 311 which a user does not yet decide to record inwrite-once storage medium 4 or delete without recording.

Displaying the number of the undecided frames lets the user knowpresence of the undecided image data and enables to prompt the user todecide whether to record the data in write-once storage medium 4 ordelete it without recording.

An explanation about a memory capacity change control in digital camera31 will be given hereinafter.

FIG. 66 is the flow chart showing a processing procedure of a memorycapacity change control to be executed in control/processor 301.

This processing is repeatedly executed as long as the power of digitalcamera is ON.

In step S4001, it is to detect if a shooting mode of digital camera 31is set to a reproduction mode. If the shooting mode is set to thereproduction mode, the flow proceeds to step S4002 and if the shootingmode is not set to the reproduction mode, the flow proceeds to stepS4005. In step S4002, it is to detect a memory status of the temporarystorage area in buffer memory 311 and obtain a number of stored imagedata. In step S4003, it is to display the number of image data obtainedin step S4002 as an undecided frame on LCD display panel 6. At thismoment, a number of the undecided frame is displayed on LCD displaypanel 6 like the display of the number of the remaining frames as shownin FIG. 57.

In step S4004, it is to check if the mode is changed with an operationof operation unit 7. If the mode is changed, the flow proceeds to stepS4005 and if the mode is not changed, the flow gets back to step S4002.

In step S4005, it is to check if the mode is changed to a shooting modeand if the mode is changed to the shooting mode, the flow proceeds tostep S4006 and if the mode is not changed to the shooting mode, the flowgets back to step S4001. In step S4006, it is to calculate a number ofremaining frames by detecting memory status of buffer memory 311 andwrite-once storage medium 4. In step S4007, it is to display a totalnumber of the remaining frames of buffer memory 311 and write-oncestorage medium 4 on LCD display panel 6 as shown in FIG. 57.

In step S4008, it is to check if the mode is changed again.

When the mode change is detected, the flow proceeds to step S4001. Whenthe mode change is not detected, the flow gets back to step S4006.

Like this, when the reproduction mode is set, displaying the number ofthe undecided frames enables to let a user know the presence of theundecided image data in buffer memory 311.

Although this control controls so as to display the number of theundecided frames in the reproduction mode and the number of theremaining frames in the shooting mode, instead of the mode change, achangeover button may be provided to select either the number of theundecided frames or the number of the remaining frames. Also, thecontrol of FIG. 66 displays only a number of a frame, but a displayindicating that a number of a frame displayed with the display of thenumber of the frame is a number of an undecided frame may be displayed.

(Reproduction Control: FIG. 67)

A reproduction control in digital camera 31 will be explained.

In digital camera 31, when the mode is changed from the shooting mode tothe reproduction mode, digital camera 31 reads out image data that wasshot just before and displays the image data on LCD display panel 6. Anoperation of a cross-marked button provided in operation unit 7 ofdigital camera 31 enables to change image data and reproduce differentimage data. In this case, regardless of image data recorded inwrite-once storage medium 4 or stored in buffer memory, image data isreproduced in shooting order.

As shown in FIG. 54, when image data stored in buffer memory 311 isbeing reproduced, a message prompting a user to record image data inwrite-once storage medium 4 is displayed at the same time. With thismessage, a user can judge whether reproduced image data is image datarecorded in write-once storage medium 4 or temporally stored in buffermemory 311.

FIG. 67 is the flow chart showing a processing procedure of an imagereproduction control to be executed in control/processor 301. Thisprocessing will start when the mode is changed to the reproduction modewith an operation of operation unit 7.

In step S4101, it is to search for image data in write-once storagemedium 4 and the temporary storage area of buffer memory 311. In stepS4102, it is readout image data that is recently taken except fordisplayed image data. Accordingly, no image data is displayed on LCDdisplay panel 6 right after the mode is changed to the reproductionmode, so recently taken image data is read out.

In step S4103, it is to detect if the read-out image data is read outfrom buffer memory 311 and if the read-out image data is read out frombuffer memory 311, the flow proceeds to step S4104. If the read-outimage data is not read out from buffer memory 311, the flow proceeds tostep S4109.

In step S4104, it is to display the read-out image data on LCD displaypanel 6 and, at the same time, it is to display a message inquiring ifthe image data is recorded in write-once storage medium 4 or deletedfrom buffer memory 311 on LCD display panel 6 by overlapping thereproduced image. In step S4105, it is to detect if a record operationis executed in response to the display in step S4104 and if the recordoperation is executed, the flow proceeds to step S4106 and if the recordoperation is not executed, the flow proceeds to step S4107.

In step S4106, it is to record the image data being reproduced andtemporarily stored in buffer memory 311 in write-once storage medium 4.At this moment, the image data is recorded in a folder of write-oncestorage medium 4 in accordance with the folder information about arecord location stored simultaneously when the image data is stored inbuffer memory 311. The image data recorded in write-once storage medium4 and the folder information are deleted from buffer memory 311. Theflow gets back to step S4101.

In step S4107, it is to detect if a delete operation is executed and ifthe delete operation is executed, the flow proceeds to step S4108 and ifthe delete operation is not executed, the flow proceeds to step S4111.In step S4108, it is to delete image data being reproduced from buffermemory 311. The flow gets back to step S4101.

In step S4103, when it is judged that the read-out image data is imagedata in write-once storage medium 4, not in buffer memory 311, in stepS4109, it is to display the read-out image data on LCD display panel 6.Here, a message inquiring about deletion of the image data etc is notdisplayed.

In step S4110, it is to check if an operation of a cross-marked buttonof operation unit 7 etc is executed so as to instruct reproduction ofother image data. If the reproduction is instructed, the flow gets backto step S4101 and if the reproduction is not instructed, the flowproceeds to step S4111. In step S4111, it is to detect if thereproduction mode is set and if the reproduction mode is set, the flowgets back to step S4110 and if the mode is changed from the reproductionmode to other mode, the flow is ended releasing the reproduction mode.

Like this, when the reproduced image data being reproduced in thereproduction mode is image data temporarily stored in buffer memory 311,a message prompting a user to decide whether to record the image data inwrite-once storage medium 4 or delete the image data from buffer memory311 is displayed.

(Reproduction Change Control: FIG. 68)

Digital camera 31 is provided with a function to reproduce only an imagedata of buffer memory 311 in the event that the image data is stored inbuffer memory 311 when the mode is changed to the reproduction mode.

A reproduction mode change control in digital camera 31 will beexplained hereinafter.

FIG. 68 is the flow chart showing a processing procedure of areproduction mode change control to be executed in control/processor301. This processing will start when the mode is changed to thereproduction mode.

In step S4201, it is to detect if image data is stored in buffer memory311 and if the image data is stored in buffer memory 311, the flowproceeds to step S4203 and if the image data is not stored, the flowproceeds to step S4202. In step S4202, it is to read out image datataken just before from image data recorded in write-once storage medium4 and display the image data on LCD display panel 6.

In step S4203, LCD display panel 6 shows a selection menu to reproduceany of all image data or image data only stored in buffer memory 311 fora reproduction. FIG. 69 shows a selection menu screen display example onLCD display panel 6. In step S4204, it is to check if “all reproduction”is selected. If the “all reproduction” is selected, the flow proceeds tostep S4205 and if the “all reproduction” is not selected, the flowproceeds to step S4206. In step S4205, out of image data stored inwrite-once storage medium 4 and buffer memory 311, it is to read outimage data taken just before and display the read-out image data on LCDdisplay panel 6.

In step S4206, it is to check if “temporary storage” is selected and ifthe “temporary storage” is selected, the flow proceeds to step S4207 andif the “temporary storage” is not selected, the flow gets back to stepS4203. In step S4207, out of image data stored in buffer memory 311, itis to read out image data taken just before and reproduce the read-outimage data on LCD display panel 6.

In a case where a reproduction image is displayed in any of step S4202,step S4205 or step S4207, a message such that the reproduction image isto be recorded in write-once storage medium 4 or deleted from buffermemory 311 is displayed at the same time.

In the control shown in FIG. 68, recently taken image data is not readout, but plural image data may be so displayed as to be viewed at onceas shown in FIG. 70. In this case, a message inquiring if the image datais recorded in write-once storage medium 4 or deleted from buffer memory311 is displayed. In a case where all image data is displayed at once asshown in FIG. 70, in addition to an individual record or deleteoperation per each image data, all image data of buffer memory 311 maybe caused to be recorded in write-once storage medium 4 or deleted frombuffer memory 311.

Like this, by providing a reproduction function to reproduce only imagedata in buffer memory 311, image data can be reproduced withoutconfirming each time whether the image data is image data in buffermemory 311 or write-once storage medium 4. The reproduction menu iscontrolled to be displayed as shown in FIG. 69 only when image data isstored in buffer memory 311, so an image can be instantaneouslyreproduced when image data is not stored in buffer memory 311.Therefore, a user does not feel annoying.

(Image Data Delete Control: FIG. 71)

An image data delete operation in digital camera 31 will be explainedhereinafter. Digital camera 31 of the fourth embodiment stores imagedata in buffer memory 311 continuously, so the image data stored inbuffer memory 311 also becomes a target to be deleted when an operationto delete all image data is executed. A more specific operation will beexplained as follow.

FIG. 71 is the flow chart showing a processing procedure of an imagedelete control to be executed in control/processor 301. This processingwill start when an operation to delete all image data is executed withoperation unit 7.

In step S4301, it is to detect if image data is stored in buffer memory311 and if the image data is stored, the flow proceeds to step S4302 andif the image data is not stored, the flow proceeds to step S4303. Instep S4302, it is to display a message saying that the image data inbuffer memory 311 is also deleted on LCD display panel 6. At the sametime, it is to display a message inquiring if the image data in buffermemory 311 is deleted simultaneously or the delete operation iscancelled.

In step S4303, it is to display a comment saying that the image data isdeleted and an inquiry about an image delete or a delete cancel on LCDdisplay panel 6.

In step S4304, it is to detect if a delete operation is executed and ifthe delete operation is executed, the flow proceeds to step S4305 and ifthe delete operation is not executed, the flow proceeds to step S4308.In step S4308, it is to detect if the cancel operation is executed. Whenthe cancel operation is executed, this flow is ended and when the canceloperation is not executed, the flow gets back to step S4304.

In step S4305, when image data is stored in a memory card, all the imagedata is deleted. In step S4306, when image data is stored in buffermemory 311, all the image data is deleted. In step S4307, LCD displaypanel 6 displays that all the image data was deleted.

In this way, a selection of a delete operation of all image data enablesto delete image data stored in a memory card and in buffer memory 311easily. When image data is stored in buffer memory 311, a user isnotified that the image data stored in buffer memory 311 is deleted sothat an inadvertent deletion of the image data can be avoided.

Fifth Embodiment

A fifth embodiment of this invention will be described usingaccompanying diagrams. In the fifth embodiment, an image storageapparatus that stores image data taken with digital cameras inaccordance with the first to the fourth embodiments as described so farwill be described. The image storage apparatus is not an apparatusdedicated for storing image data, but may be an information device likePC etc.

FIG. 72 is a block diagram showing a configuration of image storageapparatus 50 in accordance with the fifth embodiment.

Image storage apparatus 50 consists of control/processor unit 501,program memory 502, display driver 503, hard disk memory 504, slot 505,connector terminal 506, display output terminal 507 and operation unit509 etc. Control/processor unit 501 is provided with a calculating unitlike CPU etc and commands image storage apparatus 50. Program memory 502stores a control program to be executed at control unit 501. Displaydriver 503 outputs picture image data to display 508 via display outputterminal 507. Hard disk memory 504 is bulk memory to store image data.Slot 505 has a slot enabling a memory card to be inserted into and is aninterface when reading out data of a memory card and recording data in amemory card. Connector terminal 506 is an interface to input/output databy connecting digital camera 31 or so hereto. Operation unit 509 isoperated in order for a user to enter various orders to image storageapparatus 50. Operation unit 509 may be an external keyboard, not bedirectly attached to image storage apparatus 50.

(Image Data Management Control 1: FIG. 73)

An image data management control to be executed in image storageapparatus 50 will be explained. The image data management control canretrieve image data of a memory card, namely, reads in and stores imagedata and delete it.

FIG. 73 is the flow chart showing a processing procedure of an imagemanagement control to be executed in control/processor 501. Thisprocessing will start by detecting a connection of digital camera 31thereto or insertion of a memory card into slot 505 of image storageapparatus 50.

In step S4401, it is to detect if there is image data in a memory cardand if there is the image data, the flow proceeds to step S4402 and ifthere is not the image data, the flow is ended.

In step S4402, it is to detect if image data is set to be automaticallystored at the same time when digital camera 31 is connected or a memorycard is inserted. This setting is set by a user via an operation ofoperation unit 509 with reference to a setting menu displayed on display508. FIG. 74 shows a display example of the setting menu on display 508.A setting menu shown in FIG. 74 is to set how image data recorded in amemory card in use is processed.

When the image data is set to be stored at the same time when the memorycard is connected, the flow proceeds to step S4403 and if the image datais not set to be stored, the flow is ended.

In step S4403, it is to retrieve the image data. The retrieved imagedata is stored in a storage medium set via a setting menu shown in FIG.74. In step S4404, it is to detect if retrieving of all image data isfinished and if the retrieving of all the image data is finished, theflow proceeds to step S4405 and if the retrieving of all image data isnot finished, the flow gets back to step S4403.

In step S4405, it is to detect if the retrieved image data is set to bedeleted from the memory card in the setting menu. If the deletion of theimage data is set, the flow proceeds to step S4406 and if the image datais not set, the flow proceeds to step S4415.

In step S4406, it is to obtain information about a connected memorycard, for instance, property information. In step S4407, it is to detectif the memory card is write-once storage medium 4 based upon theinformation obtained in step S4406. If the memory card is write-oncestorage medium 4, the flow proceeds to step S4408 and if the memory cardis not write-once storage medium 4, the flow proceeds to step S4412.

In step S4408, it is to display a message warning that deletion of imagedata can not get an increase in memory capacity on display 508 and alongwith this message, an inquiry if the image data is deleted or not isdisplayed thereon. In step S4409, it is to detect if the deleteoperation is executed and if the delete operation is executed, the flowproceeds to step S4410 and if the delete operation is not executed, theflow proceeds to step S4412.

In step S4410, it is to perform delete processing on the image dataalready retrieved in the memory card. In step S4411, it is to detect ifthe delete processing is complete with respect to all the image dataalready retrieved. If the delete processing is complete, the flowproceeds to step S4415 and if the delete processing is not complete, theflow gets back to step S4410.

In step S4412, it is to detect if a cancel operation is executed and ifthe cancel operation is executed, the flow proceeds to step S4415 and ifthe cancel operation is not executed, the flow gets back to step S4409.

In step S4413, FAT information is renewed to indicate that the imagedata is deleted. In step S4414, it is to detect if the delete processingon all the image data is complete and if the delete processing iscomplete, the flow proceeds to step S4415 and if the delete processingis not complete, the flow gets back to step S4413.

In step S4415, it is to display a message saying that the processing isended on display 508.

Like this, even if the retrieved image data from the memory card is setto be automatically deleted, the inquiry about deletion with respect towrite-once storage medium 4 prevents a user from deleting image datawithout knowing that the deletion does not lead to an increase in memorycapacity.

(Image Data Management Control 2: FIG. 75)

Another example of the image management control in image storageapparatus 50 will be explained.

In this control, when the inserted memory card is write-once storagemedium 4, this control does not delete image data at a time of anautomatic transfer and displays that a delete operation is halted.

FIG. 75 is the flow chart showing a processing procedure of an imagemanagement control to be executed in control/processor 501 of imagestorage apparatus 50. This processing will start when detecting aconnection of digital camera 31 or insertion of a memory card into slot505 of image storage apparatus 50.

In step S4501, it is to detect if there is image data in a memory cardand if there is the image data, the flow proceeds to step S4502 and ifthere is not the image data, the flow is ended. In step S4502, it is todetect if image data is set to be automatically retrieved at the sametime when connecting in a setting menu. When the automatic retrieve isset, the flow proceeds to step S4503 and when the automatic retrieve isnot set, this processing is ended.

In step S4503, it is to retrieve image data in the memory card. In stepS4504, it is to detect if retrieving of all the image data is finishedand if the retrieval of all the image data is finished, the flowproceeds to step S4505 and if the retrieval is not finished, the flowgets back to step S4503.

In step S4505, it is to detect if the retrieved image data is set to bedeleted from the memory card in the setting menu and if the deletion ofthe image data is set, the flow proceeds to step S4506. If the deletionof the image data is not set, the flow proceeds to step S4511.

In step S4506, it is to obtain information about the connected memorycard. In step S4507, it is to detect if the memory card is write-oncestorage medium 4 based upon the information obtained in step S4506. Ifthe memory card is write-once storage medium 4, the flow proceeds tostep S4508 and if the memory card is not write-once storage medium 4,the flow proceeds to step S4509.

In step S4508, display 508 displays what an image data deletion ishalted due to write-once storage medium 4 in use.

In step S4509, FAT information is renewed to indicate that the imagedata is deleted. In step S4510, it is to detect if the delete processingon all the image data is finished and if the delete processing isfinished, the flow proceeds to step S4511 and if the delete processingis not finished, the flow gets back to step S4509.

In step S4511, it is to display a message saying that the processing isended on display 508.

A control in which image data is retrieved from a memory card and thenthe retrieved image data is automatically deleted is often executed forthe purpose of increasing memory capacity capable of recording inpreparation for a next shooting. When the memory card is write-oncestorage medium 4, deletion of image data cannot get an increase inmemory capacity capable of recording. Automatic deletion of image datais not performed in write-once storage medium 4, so a user does not needmeaningless wasteful delete processing.

(Image Management Setting Control: FIG. 76)

An image management setting control to be executed in image storageapparatus 50 will be described hereinafter.

Image storage apparatus 50 sets image management setting processing in acase where a memory card is overwritable storage medium 3 and imagemanagement setting processing in a case where a memory card iswrite-once storage medium 4 independently and the processing is executedrespectively in accordance with each setting.

FIG. 76 is the flow chart showing a processing procedure of an imagemanagement setting control to be executed in control/processor 501 ofimage storage apparatus 50. This processing will start when insertion ofa memory card or a connection of a digital camera is detected.

In step S4601, it is to detect if an inserted memory card is write-oncestorage medium 4 and if write-once storage medium 4 is inserted, theflow proceeds to step S4602 and if write-once storage medium 4 is notinserted, the flow proceeds to step S4608. In step S4602, it is todetect if setting information for write-once storage medium 4 isrecorded in program memory 502 and if the setting information isrecorded, the flow proceeds to step S4606 and if the setting informationis not recorded, the flow proceeds to step S4603.

In step S4603, it is to display a setting menu for a write-once storagemedium on display 508. FIG. 77 shows a display example of the settingmenu for the write-once storage medium. Though the display example ofFIG. 77 shows two setting menus in a single window, each setting menumay be displayed separately in a different window.

In step S4604, it is to detect if a setting operation is finished viaoperation unit 509 and if the setting operation is finished, the flowproceeds to step S4605 and if the setting operation is not finished, theflow gets back to step S4603. In step S4605, it is to record settinginformation entered via the setting menu in program memory 502. In stepS4606, it is read out the setting information recorded in program memory502. In step S4607, processing is executed according to the recordedsetting.

When an inserted memory card is overwritable storage medium 3, in stepS4608, it is to detect if program memory 502 records setting informationabout the overwritable storage medium. If program memory 502 records thesetting information, the flow proceeds to step S4612 and if programmemory 502 does not record the setting information, the flow proceeds tostep S4609. In step S4609, it is to display the setting menu for theoverwritable storage medium on display 508 as shown in FIG. 77. FIG. 77shows a display example.

In step S4610, it is to detect if a setting operation is finished viaoperation unit 509 and if the setting operation is finished, the flowproceeds to step S4611 and if the setting operation is not finished, theflow gets back to step S4609. In step S4611, it record the settinginformation entered via the setting menu in program memory 502. In stepS4612, it is to read out the setting information recorded in programmemory 502. In step S4613, processing is executed according to therecorded setting.

As described in the foregoing, the settings for the overwritable storagemedium and the write-once storage medium are so controlled as to beindependently set, a user can set a setting suitable for each memorycard.

The image management setting control in image storage apparatus 50explained by using FIG. 77 can be applied to digital camera 31. An imagemanagement setting control in digital camera 31 will be explainedhereinafter.

A setting menu example displayed on LCD display panel 6 of digitalcamera 31 is shown in FIG. 78( a) and (b). When a memory card insertedinto slot 2 of digital camera 31 is overwritable storage medium 3, asetting menu shown in FIG. 78( a) is displayed. When write-once storagemedium 4 is inserted, a setting menu shown in FIG. 78( b) is displayed.Although FIG. 78 shows separately the setting menus for the overwritablestorage medium and the write-once storage medium, both setting menus canbe displayed at the same time as shown in FIG. 77.

The processing procedure of the image management control in digitalcamera 31 is the same as the one to be executed in image storageapparatus 50 explained using FIG. 76, so the explanation about theprocedure thereof is omitted.

As described in the foregoing, the image management settings for theoverwritable storage medium and the write-once storage medium are socontrolled as to be independently set, so the setting suitable for eachstorage medium can be set in digital camera 31.

Such the control in image storage apparatus 50 can be realized by acomputer application program. In this case, a computer installing theapplication program and its peripheral apparatus connected when neededcorresponds to each configuring element of image storage apparatus 50.Therefore, in order to realize a function of this invention, anapplication program itself and a storage medium like CD-ROM recordingthe program available for sale via the Internet etc are also included ina scope of this invention.

So far, the explanation about the digital camera recording image datausing the write-once storage medium and the overwritable storage mediumhas been given, but this invention may be applied to the digital camerausing only the write-once storage medium.

1. A digital camera comprising: an imaging device; an insertion portinto which a storage medium limiting a number of overwrite is capable ofbeing inserted, an internal memory; and a capacity control device thatcontrols so as to secure temporal storage capacity to temporally storean image data taken by the imaging device in the internal memory whenthe storage medium limiting a number of overwrite is inserted into theinsertion port, wherein the capacity control device secures the temporalstorage capacity of the internal memory in response to capacity of thestorage medium limiting a number of overwrite.
 2. The digital cameraaccording to claim 1, wherein: the capacity control device secures thetemporal storage capacity of the internal memory in response to capacityof the storage medium limiting a number of overwrite.
 3. The digitalcamera according to claim 1, wherein: the internal memory is a volatilememory.
 4. The digital camera according to claim 1, wherein: theinternal memory is a buffer memory for image processing work.
 5. Thedigital camera according to claim 1 further comprising: a residualcapacity calculation device that decides capacity obtained bysubtracting capacity of the image data stored in the internal memoryfrom residual capacity of the storage medium limiting a number ofoverwrite as residual capacity for recording image data taken by theimaging device.
 6. The digital camera according to claim 5 furthercomprising: a residual capacity display control device that converts theresidual capacity calculated by the residual capacity calculation deviceto a record frame number of the image data and displays a record framenumber thereof.
 7. The digital camera according to claim 1 furthercomprising: a battery attachment device; a battery power capacitydetector that detects residual capacity of a battery power attached tothe battery attachment device; and an image record control device thatrecords the image data temporally stored in the internal memory in thestorage medium limiting a number of overwrite corresponding to theresidual capacity of the battery power detected by the battery powercapacity detector.
 8. The digital camera according to claim 1 furthercomprising: a battery attachment device; a battery power capacitydetector that detects residual capacity of a battery power attached tothe battery attachment device; and a record notification device thatnotifies so as to record the image data temporally stored in theinternal memory in the storage medium limiting a number of overwritecorresponding to the residual capacity of the battery power detected bythe battery power capacity detector.
 9. The digital camera according toclaim 1 further comprising: a battery attachment device; and a dismantlewarning device that warns so as not to dismantle a battery when theimage data is stored in the internal memory.
 10. The digital cameraaccording to claim 1, wherein: format of the image data to be stored inthe internal memory is equal to format of image data to be recorded inthe storage medium limiting a number of overwrite.
 11. The digitalcamera according to claim 10, wherein: the image data stored in theinternal memory is EXIF (Exchangeable Image File Format) image data. 12.The digital camera according to claim 10, wherein: information about afolder to be recorded in the storage medium limiting a number ofoverwrite set at a shooting is also stored in the internal memory alongwith the image data.